Eight people, including a five-year-old boy, have died in incidents related to heavy rainfall in the Eastern Cape, provincial disaster management officials said on Sunday.

A five-year-old boy from Buffalo Flats fell into a stream on Sunday, said Captain John Fobian.

“His body was recovered an hour later near the Duncan Village.”

Fobian said some people died while crossing streams and others when their vehicles were washed away.

On Saturday, three people died in Witteklip, Kleinskool and Coffee Bay.

Last week Wednesday, a police officer and two of his friends were travelling across the Cebula bridge when their car was washed away.

Their bodies were recovered on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall was expected to continue in the region on Monday. - Sapa