Floods death toll surges to 341

The death toll from the “unprecedented” floods in South Africa has climbed to 341 as helicopters fanned out across the southeastern city of Durban in an increasingly desperate search for survivors.

With roads and bridges washed away by freak rainfall this week, rescuers battled to deliver supplies across the city, where some residents have been without power or water since Monday.

“The level of devastation of human life, infrastructure and service delivery network in the province is unprecedented,” said Sihle Zikalala, the premier of KwaZulu-Natal province.

At a small airport north of Durban, helicopters carried rescuers in and out. The air support was pulled from the military and police, but also a fleet of volunteers, private contractors and schools.

One day after the rains finally subsided, fewer survivors were being found, said Travis Trower, a director for the volunteer-run organisation Rescue South Africa.

From 85 calls, his teams had found only corpses. “We do the best we can for as many people as we can,” he said.

The government has not said how many people are missing, and Mr Zikalala said the damage bill would be hundreds of millions of dollars.