South Africa’s April floods made twice as likely by climate crisis, scientists say

A temple in Chatsworth, outside Durban, was severely damaged by the flooding in April. Photograph: AP

The massive and deadly floods that struck South Africa in April were made twice as likely and more intense by global heating, scientists have calculated. The research demonstrates that the climate emergency is resulting in devastation.

Catastrophic floods and landslides hit the South African provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape on 11 April following exceptionally heavy rainfall.