WESTERN CAPE NEWS - Disaster Management in the Western Cape has confirmed that a further two bodies have been found following the severe storm that made landfall in the Southern Cape on Tuesday evening.
This brings the total number of fatalities to four.
The two bodies are those of the missing persons that were being searched for since Wednesday.
The bodies were found in the Riviersonderend/Stormsvlei area.
The first two casualties were recorded in the Bonnievale area.
There are no further missing persons at present.
The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, has expressed his condolences. “Every casualty is a tragedy and we are deeply saddened by each loss. Emergency responders continue to work non-stop across the affected regions to ensure people are kept as safe as possible. These efforts will not stop until the danger has passed.”
Updates:
Malgas remains cut off but the area is reported to be safe. Disaster management continues to monitor the area and will support if needs be.
The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to monitor the rising levels of rivers in the region and will advise if further action is needed.
Several roads in the Southern Cape are either closed or affected by localised flooding.
Damage to agricultural fields and livestock is expected to be significant.
All evacuations of affected persons have been completed successfully. Further evacuations will be done if needed.
Various farm roads have been damaged with limited or no access to certain areas.
The Riviersonderend sewerage works has been damaged but technicians are attending to it already.
Travelling in the Overberg region remains extremely unsafe and impossible in places.
The South African Weather Services warned that further disruptive rainfall can be expected across most parts of the Overberg throughout today and tonight. In addition, rainfall can be expected in Bitou, Breede Valley, Cape Agulhas, George, Hessequa, Kannaland, Knysna, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn and Swellendam until tomorrow evening with up to 50mm predicted for the Garden Route district.
People are urged to limit travelling and to remain indoors as far as possible. Contact the emergency services in event of emergency.
The provincial emergency number is 112.
