Bodies of students found after the bus was thrown away after heavy rains

The search for students obsessed with floods in the province of East Cape in South Africa has resumed after being stopped overnight, employees said.

The children were on their way to school in Mata when their bus was taken to flooded waters as it passed a bridge on Tuesday morning.

A total of eight bodies, including that of the bus driver, have been restored so far, said East Cape Community Community employee NQATHA told the Newzroom Afrika private television station.

Other employees said three students were rescued on Tuesday, but it is not clear how many students are on the bus, which has since been found on the river bank with anyone inside.

The public television operator SABC reported that the three children who were rescued were found to cling to trees.

On Wednesday morning, Eastern Cape Prime Minister Oscar Mabuin visited the scene to witness rescue efforts and meet the affected communities.

He told Newzroom Afrika that while the situation was “difficult”, he was “quite happy” by the emergency reaction.

South Africa has been struck by Strong snow, rains and winds which officially took the lives of 14 people, nine of the floods and five in a road accident.

Nearly 500,000 homes were left without electricity on Tuesday – and the ESKOM state electricity supplier says efforts are being made to restore connections.

South Africa President Cyril Ramafosa proposed his condolences to the families of the dead when he urged citizens to “show attention, care and cooperation, since the worst impact of winter time comes into force throughout the country.”

The Eastern Nose-Mate of the Anti-Parteid icon Nelson Mandela is affected by the worst of the icy conditions, along with the province of Quazulu Naal.

Bad weather forced the closure of some major roads in the two provinces to avoid more victims.