# South Africa’s largest short-term insurer, Santam, says claims have started trickling in from clients affected by severe flash floods in the Southern Cape. Flooding in George and surrounding areas has caused major damage with schools and clinics forced to close yesterday. Santam’s Fanus Coetzee says the majority of the claims received so far relate to water damage in homes and businesses. Coetzee says they recognises that extreme weather events are increasing in intensity and occurrence as predicted by the climate change science and the rising urbanisation patterns of South Africa.