South Africa's leader visited the region where devastating floods have left at least 78 people dead in the southeast of the country as search and rescue operations continued Friday for a fourth day and authorities said they expected the death toll to rise.

The death toll in floods in one of South Africa's poorest provinces rose to at least 78 on Thursday as a top official said rescue attempts in the first hours after the disaster had been "paralyzed" by a lack of resources.

Severe floods in South Africa's Eastern Cape have claimed at least 78 lives. Rescue attempts were hampered by limited resources, with the region lacking crucial equipment and personnel. Many were caught unaware by the floodwaters,