Since February 18, South Africa has been hit by powerful storms, floods, and tornadoes. The country's meteorological service issued level 5 and 6 warnings, indicating a high level of danger. The destructive weather led to catastrophic consequences, especially in the provinces of Gauteng, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal.
In Limpopo province, in the Thabazimbi municipality, the "largest amount of rainfall in at least seven decades" has fallen over several days.
Many roads were flooded, forcing drivers to seek refuge on the roofs of their cars. Farms were cut off from the outside world. Bridges and railways were damaged in the province. Locals noted that although the region had experienced heavy rains and floods before, nothing like this had ever been seen.
The storm also struck the capital of South Africa, Pretoria. On February 18, a powerful tornado swept through its northern area, Pretoria North. It damaged hundreds of homes and vehicles, uprooted trees, and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
In KwaZulu-Natal province, heavy rains flooded channels and streets, particularly in the southern areas of Durban, including the city of Amanzimtoti, where more than 7 inches of rain fell overnight on February 20.
The heavy rainfall triggered numerous landslides. One of them occurred in a southern suburb of Durban, swallowing several buildings and burying three people under the rubble. At least six people were killed in KwaZulu-Natal province due to the flooding and landslides.
Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly powerful and destructive. What is behind these changes, and what steps can humanity take to address the climate issue? Answers to these crucial questions are provided in the popular science film "Water from Air: The Path to Humanity's Salvation".