At least 49 people have died in severe flooding that struck parts of eastern South Africa, including four children who were swept away while traveling in a school minibus, officials confirmed on Thursday.

Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane said during a press briefing that the death toll, based on figures provided by police, includes four children who were among 13 passengers on a school bus that was engulfed by floodwaters near the town of Mthatha.

The region has been hit by extreme weather since last week, with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snow affecting large areas of the country, particularly the Eastern Cape province.

Mabuyane stated that the torrential rains triggered landslides, forced hundreds of families to evacuate their homes, and caused “significant damage to critical infrastructure.”

Rescue operations are ongoing as emergency crews continue to assist displaced residents and assess the full extent of the destruction. The flooding is among the worst natural disasters to impact the region in recent years, with authorities warning of continued severe weather in the days ahead.