It’s heartbreaking news from Limpopo, where two little kids lost their lives in separate drowning accidents amid the ongoing chaos from heavy floods. The whole area has been hit hard by non-stop rain, turning everyday places into dangerous zones and leaving families in despair.
In one incident, a six-year-old girl was out with some friends heading to a nearby shop in Tshilapfene village on Saturday afternoon. Around 2 pm, they tried to cross the Gobe River, but the water was rushing too fast. Sadly, she got swept away, while the others made it across okay. Her family and neighbors searched desperately and found her later, but it was too late. Emergency teams confirmed she had drowned, and it’s just devastating for everyone involved.
Earlier that week, on the evening of January 15, a two-year-old boy in Nkomo Village 22B fell into a water-filled pit toilet and drowned. It’s unimaginable how quickly something like this can happen, especially with all the extra water from the rains making things even riskier.
These tragedies are part of a bigger crisis in Limpopo and nearby Mpumalanga, where the downpours have caused rivers to burst their banks, wrecked roads and bridges, and forced thousands of people from their homes. So far, at least nine lives have been lost in Limpopo, including other young children, and nearly 2,000 houses are damaged. Some spots got hit with up to 400 millimeters of rain in just days, which is way more than usual.
Local leaders are calling it an unprecedented disaster and urging everyone to stay extra careful. They’re warning people not to cross swollen rivers or streams, and especially to keep a close eye on kids during this stormy weather. Emergency crews are out there checking the damage, and weather alerts are still in place for more heavy rain in vulnerable areas.
Our thoughts go out to the families and communities dealing with this pain—it’s a stark reminder of how unpredictable and fierce nature can be.