After receiving as much as 18 inches of rain since Monday, more than 300 people died in the eastern South African province of KwaZulu-Natal as water washed out roads and bridges, destroyed scores of homes and shipping, containers were set afloat, CNN reports.
Scientists studying climate change indicated the disaster is likely a result of rising global temperatures creating more powerful, intense and devastating storm. As ocean temperatures rise, storms become more powerful and carry more water, which is then dumped when it hits landfall.
A Facebook post from the provincial government called the storm “one of the worst weather storms in the history of our country. … The heavy rainfall that has descended on our land over the past few days, has wreaked untold havoc and unleashed massive damage to lives and infrastructure.”