South Africa declared a state of national disaster on Monday after flooding caused by heavy rains in recent days left seven people dead and others missing, according to authorities.

"The government has declared a state of national catastrophe to allow for a sustained and coordinated response to the impact of the floods," the presidency said in a statement quoted by the French news agency, France-Presse (AFP), cited by Lusa.

The storms are threatening seven of the country's nine provinces, mainly on the east coast, which is open to the Indian Ocean and borders Mozambique to the north, which has also faced this problem.

At least five people died in KwaZulu-Natal, disaster management center spokeswoman Nonala Ndlovu confirmed to AFP, adding that more people died elsewhere.

"Farmers have suffered crop and livestock losses," the presidency said in a statement, in which it pointed out that the bad weather will require the provision of "temporary shelter, food and blankets to people who have lost their homes, as well as the costly and large-scale rehabilitation of infrastructure" that has been affected.

The National Meteorological Center predicts "persistent and heavy" rainfall, with the risk of flooding due to "waterlogged soils and saturated rivers".

South Africa suffered the worst floods in its history last year, mainly affecting Durban, the country's third largest city and a major port, where heavy rains triggered massive landslides and mudslides that swept away people, bridges, roads and even entire buildings.

More than 400 people died and more than 85,000 were affected by these storms in 2022.