/ 2 February 1999

FLOODS KILL FIVE IN NORTH

FLOODS and rockfalls in South Africa’s Northern Province have killed at least five people following torrential rain, police said on Tuesday.Police divers had recovered five bodies by Tuesday afternoon after mud and water swept through villages situated on the slopes of the Drakensberg mountains.Bodies were swept downriver and five have been recovered so far, said police Superintendent Ferdi Jansen said.He said it was impossible at this stage to say how many people were still missing, because it had not been possible to access the area to get reports. The mudslides were caused by heavy rain which fell since Sunday. Roads and two bridges in the area have been destroyed.