Torrential rains washed out roads, damaged schools, killed pupils and disrupted shipping in one of Africa’s busiest ports.

306 persons have been killed and 240 schools damaged due to a flood in South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged on Wednesday to help the victims of devastating east coast floods, as the death toll rose to 306.

“Torrential rains washed out roads, damaged schools, killed pupils and disrupted shipping in one of Africa’s busiest ports.

According to TimesLive, the death toll of school pupils who died in torrential rains that caused flooding and mudslides in KwaZulu-Natal was estimated at 17.

That’s according to provincial education department spokesperson Sihle Mlotshwa, who said one teacher died and 248 schools were damaged in the devastating floods since Sunday.

More than 500 schools were forced to close after the heavy rainfall as schools were flooded or access was blocked.

One of the pupils who died in a mudslide was grade 5 Gelofte Skool pupil Julia Fourie.

In a post on Facebook, her school said Julia, her mother Marinda and grandmother Hester Grobler died in a mudslide at their home.

Ramaphosa visited families who had lost loved ones in KwaZulu-Natal province after floods and mudslides ravaged their homes on Tuesday.

One of the families visited was that of Ms Nelisiwe Qwabe whose 3year-old grandson, Luyanda, is missing after floodwaters destroyed their home.