A powerful winter storm is sweeping across South Africa, bringing bitter cold, snow and flooding to several provinces. The Eastern Cape is hardest hit, with an Orange Level 9 warning issued for severe disruptive rain.

The storm has also affected the power and water supply in the Eastern Cape province, At least 49 people have died in South Africa after heavy rains caused major flooding Eastern Cape province, officials said on Wednesday.

A minibus carrying schoolchildren has been swept away by heavy flooding in South Africa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial government has told the BBC. Khuselwa Rantjie said it was unclear how many children were on the bus,