Authorities have pointed to climate change as a key driver of increasingly devastating weather incidents

The death toll from last week's deadly flooding in South Africa has climbed to 88, as emergency services continue to search for missing persons, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government confirmed on Sunday.

The deluge followed a bitter winter storm that swept through the largely rural province, unleashing torrential rains and causing widespread destruction. According to News24, Mthatha was the worst-hit area, where rising river levels inundated roads and homes, with dozens of residents swept away or trapped.

Authorities announced that a provincial day of mourning would be observed on Thursday, June 19, in Decoligny Village, near Mthatha, to honor the victims.

In a statement issued over the weekend, officials said 56 bodies had been returned to families by Saturday evening.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane urged the public to report any individuals who may have gone missing around June 10 in areas affected by the floods. He also renewed calls for residents to avoid unnecessary travel through mountainous or flood-prone areas and to immediately alert authorities about downed power lines, damaged infrastructure, and other hazards.

As of Sunday, more than 38 people had been rescued, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS). Search and recovery teams remain deployed across the hardest-hit zones as efforts to locate additional victims continue.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Mthatha on Friday and announced that national authorities would examine whether issues with the local dam may have exacerbated the disaster. Officials described a massive surge of water, reaching heights of three to four meters, that tore through the area, sweeping away homes and residents alike.

"Climate change is affecting weather conditions and causing disasters that lead to fatalities, displacement, and infrastructure damage ... The Government must always be there to support and defend our people during such catastrophes," Ramaphosa wrote on X.

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South Africa's winter typically spans from May to August, with snowfall common between June and August when temperatures dip below freezing. The country is also prone to flooding, which scientists associate with intensifying rain patterns driven by climate change.