Over 60 people, including several schoolchildren, have been killed in the floods that have swept through South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

Torrential rain and snow have hit parts of the country severely damaging everything in their path.

Over four children’s bodies were recovered as of the last count on Tuesday morning.

An official had told A private TV station, Newzroom Afrika, that eight bodies, including that of the bus driver, had been found.

Public broadcaster SABC reported that three children were rescued alive on Tuesday, found clinging to trees.

Hundreds of residents had been left displaced, many spending the night in makeshift shelters around the province.

Reports says 58 schools in Eastern Cape had been affected across three districts: OR Tambo, Amathole and Alfred Nzo.

In neighbouring KwaZulu-Natal, 68 schools across nine districts have been damaged, but no fatalities have been recorded.

The heavy snow, rains, and gale-force winds have also left nearly 500,000 homes without electricity since Tuesday, and state-owned power provider Eskom says efforts are being made to restore connections.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of those who died as he urged citizens to “display caution, care and cooperation as the worst impacts of winter weather take effect across the country”.