South Africa shuts trade route with neighbour

South Africa suspended operations at a key border crossing with Botswana after heavy rains caused flooding.

Water levels reached a point where it “significantly compromises the safe and efficient functioning” of the crossing that traverses the Limpopo River, South Africa’s Border Management Authority said in a statement Tuesday.

The route is a key crossing used by copper mines in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to access South Africa’s Durban port.

Preliminary data from the Climate Hazards Center at UC Santa Barbara show the surrounding area has experienced the highest rainfall on record from Dec. 11 to Jan. 10.