Three dead, hundreds being sheltered after Eastern Cape floods.
The Eastern Cape province in South Africa has been hit by heavy rain resulting in the death of three people and the displacement of hundreds of residents. Port St Johns, a flood-prone area, was particularly affected, with schoolchildren and residents wading through flooded areas on their way home, while several cars struggled to make their way through the water. The municipality’s mayor confirmed that affected residents were being evacuated, and organisations such as Gift of the Givers were providing relief. The floods damaged major infrastructure and left residents without access to clean drinking water and electricity.
Gift of the Givers’ Ali Sablay explained that roads were inaccessible, and seven bridges in Port St Johns were also closed, along with 82 gravel roads that lead to the rural areas. The R61, the main highway in Port St Johns, was also inaccessible. Sablay confirmed that 320 residents were being temporarily sheltered and that the urgent need at the moment was feeding these people. The municipality also requested mattresses, blankets, linen, building materials, stationery and school uniforms.The floods have affected 12 wards in the province, making it a significant tragedy. Most of the gravel roads have been washed away, and heavy machinery will be required to clear the roads before relief efforts can be effectively implemented.
Senior forecaster at the South African Weather Service’s PE office, Deon van der Mescht, stated that no bad weather was predicted for the area over the next week, adding that “it’s all over now”. The eastern half of the province was under a yellow level 1 SAWS warning for wind, rain and flooding, while Ngquza Hill local municipality, incorporating Lusikisiki, was on a serious level 6 orange warning. Port St Johns, already overrun by floods, was on a level 2 yellow warning.
FLOOD HAVOC: ‘It was scary,’ say residents as the Eastern Cape is lashed by yet more rain.
The affected areas include Mnquma, Mbashe, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, and Mbizana municipal areas. Many houses, recreational facilities, businesses, and infrastructure have been submerged in water, while several roads have been washed away, including a section of the R61 road near Isinuka. The floods have also caused a power outage that has affected telecommunications networks, as well as the Mzimvumbu and Port St Johns water treatment works.
The disaster and risk management teams from Ingquza Hill have been dispatched to Rhole village to gather more information that might help in the search for the missing people. The OR Tambo infrastructure, water, and sanitation directorate is still investigating the extent of the damages. The district municipality has dispatched risk management teams to the affected areas, and some residents who have their houses submerged in water have been accommodated at the Port St Johns Youth Centre and provided with blankets and mattresses.The floods have caused significant damage to infrastructure, including bridges in Port St Johns, with the bridge to Isilimela Hospital in Nkwili being damaged.
The Eastern Cape department of transport and Sanral have sent engineers to assess the damage and determine what needs to be done. As of now, only one lane is operational on the spot where the mudslide happened.Continuing rainfall across parts of the country is endangering the lives of communities, according to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) spokesperson Legadima Leso. COGTA Minister Thembisile Nkadimeng has called on all sectors to mobilise assistance and resources to respond adequately to the situation. Disaster management teams from across all spheres of government will remain on standby to provide assistance where required and ensure coordinated response to limit the negative impact of the floods on communities.
Residents affected by the floods are calling for urgent assistance from the government, as they have lost their homes, belongings, and livelihoods. The government must take swift action to provide aid to those affected and ensure that they are safe from harm. The disaster has highlighted the need for stronger infrastructure and risk management systems to protect communities from the impact of natural disasters.
Heavy rainfall and floods hit Port St Johns again.
Port St Johns, a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, has been hit by severe flooding once again. The heavy rains have caused significant damage to infrastructure, houses, recreational facilities, and businesses in the town. Reports suggest that several roads have been washed away, and houses and shops have been submerged in water. The floods have also caused a power outage, affecting telecommunication networks, as well as the Mzimvumbu and Port St Johns water treatment works, leaving the area without clean water.This is not the first time Port St Johns has experienced severe flooding.
In April 2022, the town was also hit by heavy rainfall, resulting in significant damage to homes. According to the public relations officer for Sajonisi Woods Forum, Andile Mzungule, the recent floods have brought the entire town to a standstill, with community members unable to leave their current locations due to the floodwaters. Mzungule stated that the situation was bad and that the floods were worse than the ones the town had experienced before. He further added that the community did not know what to do as the water was all over the town, making it challenging to move around. Meanwhile, disaster and risk management teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to gather information and provide assistance to those affected.
The Eastern Cape department of transport and Sanral have also sent engineers to assess the damage caused by the floods and determine what needs to be done to restore the damaged infrastructure. While only one lane of the R61 road is currently operational in the area where the mudslide occurred, road users and motorists have been urged to exercise caution and follow instructions from law enforcement officers. As the heavy rainfall continues across parts of South Africa, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has called on all sectors to mobilize assistance and resources to respond adequately to the floods. The COGTA minister has directed the National Disaster Management Centre to remain in contact with the provincial and district disaster management centers to ensure a coordinated response to limit the negative impact of the floods on affected communities.