Deadly Floods Force Evacuation, Closure Of Kruger National Park

South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park has been shut to visitors following deadly flooding triggered by weeks of torrential rainfall that has killed at least 19 people in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

Park authorities on Thursday closed the reserve as a precaution, citing rising floodwaters and forecasts of continued heavy rain over the next 48 hours. Earlier in the day, guests and staff were rescued by helicopter after one of the park’s campsites was inundated.

The South African Weather Service issued its highest-level warning for parts of the northern region, predicting between 100 and 200 millimetres of rainfall. The agency described the alert as “quite unprecedented.”

Heavy rains, which began in December, have caused rivers to overflow, washing away roads and leaving communities stranded. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited flood-hit Limpopo on Thursday as search-and-rescue teams were deployed to affected areas.

The South African National Defence Force confirmed it was using helicopters and aircraft to evacuate stranded residents.

Kruger National Park, Africa’s largest game reserve, spans about 20,000 square kilometres and borders Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is home to the famed Big Five — lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.

A park spokesperson assured that wildlife can adapt to the conditions and move to higher ground.

Reynold Thakhuli said safety concerns informed the decision to evacuate visitors.

“We had to proactively start evacuating certain camps, particularly bush camps and rustic camps,” he told The Associated Press.

“At this moment there’s no predictions in terms of when the rain will stop, so we are monitoring on a daily basis.”

Meanwhile, neighbouring Mozambique has also been hit by record rainfall, forcing evacuations from low-lying communities. Authorities warned that more rain and strong winds were expected in the coming days, including in the capital, Maputo.