One person died while trying to cross the Buffeljagsrivier in the Overberg District Municipality last night. According to the Western Cape Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC), the incident occurred at around 7pm, when three people attempted to cross the river. While two made it, another was swept away. Efforts to locate the person throughout the night were in vain.
Also read: WCG requires SANDF helicopter to deliver aid to flooded Citrusdal
The police, water teams and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) are on standby.
Since Wednesday, 14 June, inclement weather conditions caused severe damages and disruptions in parts of the Western Cape, resulting in several instances of flooding.
In their latest update on the situation, the DRMC announced that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) helicopter, which will deliver humanitarian aid to Citrusdal, is still at Ysterplaat. Although the weather improved somewhat, departure was scheduled for 11:30am due to poor visibility. The initial plan is to travel via Langeberg and assess weather conditions from there. If the weather does not permit the helicopter to continue, the effort will be resumed tomorrow.
In Theewaterskloof, the DRMC noted that informal settlements are located on a flood line and that intervention and relocation would be needed. Municipalities and districts have been requested to compile a detailed report on how to resolve the issue. In the meantime, the DRMC’s emergency housing team is not on standby and will respond within 24 hours in the event of an adverse incident.
With regard to power outages, electricity to Hermanus, Villiersdorp and Gouda in Witzenberg was restored. In areas that are still flooded, such as Citrusdal and Piketberg, some issues are still being experienced. Other areas still experiencing power interruptions include De Hoek, Kapteins Kloof and Vredendal, while Slagboom Farm is still without power.
SANRAL has noted that it is aware of potholes between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam on the N7, as the current seal has run its course. Road managers are reportedly tending to the problem.
A water build-up on the N7, section 2, near the Moorreesburg area, is being attended to. Road managers are removing the edge build and grass encroachment so that the water can run off.
SANRAL is in discussions with the Mosselbay Municipality and provincial municipalities to address the sand on the N2 in the Kleinbrak area and by the R43 on-ramp.
In Cape Town, more than 4 000 people were affected by flooding in informal settlements. SASSA, disaster relief partners and non-profit organisations provided humanitarian relief in several areas, and donations are channelled to community-based organisations.
While City departments are conducting mopping-up operations across all affected areas, disaster risk management personnel are continuing with assessments.
Reports of flooding were received from the following areas:
- Vygieskraal
- Belgravia
- Ladies Park in Gugulethu
- Wrong Turn informal settlement in Somerset West
- Driftsands
- Klipheuwel
- Phillipi
The City is providing milling and sand to these areas. In addition, the roads and stormwater department is currently diverting water from the dam next to the Phillipi railway station which is overflowing. Nearly 2 000 complaints of prolonged power outages were logged in the Cape Metropole.
The DRMC also noted the following incidents for the West Coast District Municipality:
- Aid for Citrusdal is expected to be dispatched by 2pm today;
- Due to significant flooding in the Matzikama area, people are stuck in guesthouses;
- Residents have been evacuated from Vredendal and Klawer and housed in community halls;
One community member, a 64-year-old man, lost his life after he refused to evacuate and succumb to the floods. Colin Deiner, head of the Western Cape DRMC, says the man chose to stay in his home. ‘We evacuated about 20 people from the area, but this resident chose to stay in his home. He was found dead this morning. Unfortunately, we can’t release the names of the two deceased people yet.’
Operations in Cederberg are ongoing. Local municipalities have activated their joint operations committees. Of the 25 police stations in the affected areas, 80% support the local municipality with response activities.
In Stellenbosch, Hollandsche Molen is being closely monitored, and food parcels will be issued to the area.
Mopping operations across the Breede Valley Municipality are underway, while sand bangs have been provided to communities. Four people were evacuated from Kykplaas and housed at the Touwsriver police station. In Rawsonville, the community church and school hall are housing the displaced community, where Gift of the Givers will soon provide assistance.
Furthermore, the water levels at the farms in Witzenberg Municipality have subsided, and all teams remain on standby.
In the Drakenstein Municipality, responders assisted in saving the contents of a house that was about to collapse. Mop-up operations are ongoing in the area. Gift of the Givers provided assistance to the three shelters in the area, including Mbekweni, Wellington and Gouda. The Drakenstein Municipality is providing warm meals to the shelters.
In the Langeberg Municipality, nine people were trapped and rescued by Skymed, EMS Rescue and the SAPS driving unit, and placed with their family members. The Langeberg Municipality is providing food parcels, blankets and mattresses for displaced people.
In the Garden Route district, two trees were uprooted in Riversdal. In Kannaland, electrical cables were damaged by strong winds (electricity was restored by 8am this morning).
Power was restored in Overstrand, while small power disruptions persist in Grabouw. The lower areas of Malgas have now surpassed previous flood levels of 2021.
The DRMC also provided a full report on the state of the roads:
Provincial traffic
Closed:
- Du Toitskloof Pass;
- Slanghoek low water bridge in Rawsonville;
- Franschoek Pass (R101 between Paarl and Worcester;
- Bainskloof Pass;
- MR534 between Piketberg and Redelinghuys Road (partially open).
- Bainskloof Pass (R301 between Wellington and Wolseley;
- Franschoek pass (R45 between Franschoek and Theewaterskloof Dam);
- Visserhoek Road (M48 that connects Durbanville and the N7)
- Goudiniweg;
- Slanghoek closed on one lane;
- Entrance to Citrusdal where emergency repairs will start once water flow allows;
- TR29/2 Nagtwag between Bredasdorp and Arniston;
- Klawer to Strandfontein (MR548);
- Vredendal to Lutzville (MR547);
- Vredendal to Vanrhynsdorp;
- Uitkykpass extension, between Mansjiesrivier and Kromriver;
- Some minor roads in the Overberg.
Re-opened:
- Huisriver pass between Calitzdorp and Ladismith following rockfalls;
- Meiringspoort between Klaarstrom and De Rust;
- R44 Clarence Drive between Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els following rockfalls;
- Mitchell’s pass between Ceres and Wolsely following mudslides;
- Huguenot Tunnel in both directions for light motor vehicles;
- Direction to Cape Town – heavy motor vehicles are diverted via the R43;
- Swartberg Pass (R328 between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn, the low water bridge overtoppeled but is passable);
- Grootriver Pass (R101 in Nature’s Valley;
- Urionskraal Dr 2217 (27km van Vanrhynsdorp very damaged);
- Oudemuragieroad gravel road outside De Rust;
- Tr 23/3 Gouda Porterville shoulder lane closed off the river not rising.
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