Eloise leaves 6 dead and thousands homeless in Eswatini

Eswatini acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku says six people have died after trying to cross flooded rivers following cyclone Eloise.

In a report, Masuku said that the cyclone resulted in the damage of infrastructure such as roads that covered at least 775km, and 53 bridges, property, agriculture, as well as disturbance in the delivery of essential services.

“Sadly, six people died while attempting to cross flooded rivers. It is clear that the deaths could have been avoided had we all heeded to the alerts and warnings issued by various government departments including the police, national disasters management agency and the meteorology department that no attempts should be made to cross flooded rivers,” said Masuku.

Masuku said that at least 2015 people, from 500 homes, were directly affected by the cyclone.

Masuku also said that as a disaster response, a total of 105 people were moved from their homes to safer places to stay temporarily, and provided with food, water and other necessities.

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Masuku added that the government would be helping those that did not have the resources to rebuild their damaged homes.

Masuku said that some homes experienced rock falls, and around 66 water pumps and several water facilities were damaged, affecting the supply of water capacity and access to drinkable water in some of the country’s urban areas, including the Swazi capital Mbabane.

Masuku added that settlement patterns in the kingdom would have to be reconsidered in order to avoid and reduce the loss lives in future, especially along river banks.

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