At least 45 people in South Africa have been killed in floods caused by days of heavy rain, the authorities say.
It happened in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, where many people were still missing and emergency services were searching for survivors.
Some in the city of Durban were standing on rooftops awaiting rescue, but local media reported that only one helicopter was available to lift people away.
Key roads across the city were shut and mudslides have destroyed many homes.
It comes as scientists warned that climate change was fuelling heavier rainfall than usual in southern Africa.
The mayor of eThekwini – which is the area including Durban and its surrounding towns – has apologised to residents who were left stranded after the emergency call centre was overwhelmed overnight.
Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda also mentioned efforts were under way to restore water and electricity supplies that have been cut in some parts of the city after most of the city’s electricity power stations were flooded on Monday evening and a number of water treatment plants were damaged.
People were being urged to stay at home, but those living in low-lying areas were rather urged to move to higher grounds.
Residents who fear their homes may collapse should seek shelter in community halls, Mayor Kaunda advised.
South Africans have been posting photos online of the destruction, including this collapsed road in the resort town of Umdloti.
Floodwaters disturbed graves at nearby Ntuzuma Cemetery with reports of human bones washing on to the street, and an anti-theft vehicle-tracking agency posted footage on Twitter showing what it said was a human skull that had washed up.
The national broadcaster, SABC, showed footage of shipping containers strewn across a motorway in the city of Durban.
More rainfall is expected across southern KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, according to the South African Weather Service, advising citizens to stay clear of flooded roads and bridges.
Shipping containers were strewn across this motorway in Durban.Efforts are under way to clear debris caused by the storms. -BBC
