S.Africa declares national disaster as floods kill 12

At least 12 people are dead following heavy floods triggered by heavy rains in South Africa. In the province of Mpumalanga,in the northeast of the country, one of the hardest hit, some areas remain inaccessible by road after bridges were washed away.

South Africa declared a national disaster as floods hit seven of its nine provinces, damaging roads and bridges and leaving at least seven people dead.

Heavy rains have hit large parts of the country, and the deluge is expected to continue, according to the national weather service.

The government has "declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, coordinated response to the impact of floods" affecting the seven provinces, mainly on the east coast of the country, the statement said.

Disaster management centres report seven deaths so far but no national toll has been announced.

Several other people are missing after they tried to cross a swollen river.

Two more people were reported dead in northeastern Mpumalanga province, local authorities reported.

In northern Limpopo, a hospital, roads, and bridges were damaged, while cars were washed away.

"In agriculture, farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses," read the statement from the presidency.

Last year, South Africa was hit by its worst floods in living memory, which left more than 400 people dead in the third-largest city Durban and surrounding areas.