The Western Cape government has been asked to airlift food parcels to thousands of families affected by torrential rains in the Overberg region, particularly Arniston and Napier.
Faan Naude, chief provincial director for disaster management, said on Tuesday that the air force was conducting reconnaissance flights over the Overberg and surrounding areas to help determine the extent of the flood damage.
Rivers burst their banks and towns were cut off from the outside world in Sunday and Monday’s deluge, with Bredasdorp among the worst hit.
Naude said about 3 000 people were affected in Bredasdorp, with the municipality and community working ”very laudably” to deal with the crisis.
He said it is too early to give a comprehensive assessment, with information being collated during the day from a joint operations centre.
Near Montagu, the Kinga River had flooded and caused the road linking the town with Barrydale to be closed.
The Kogmanskloof River also burst its banks and partially submerged the Van der Merwe bridge, with the road between Ashton and Montagu closed as a result.
The Tradouw’s Pass between Barrydale and Suurbraak was closed because of rockfalls.
Naude said no further damage was reported in Caledon, although the N2 highway towards Riviersonderend was closed to traffic after being damaged.
No significant damage was reported in the Eden district municipality, which serves the towns of Knysna, Plettenberg and George.
Naude said all services appeared to be back to normal in Cape Town.
Mopping-up operations were continuing, especially of stormwater drains either blocked or damaged.
Sixty-one families from the temporary tented accommodation at Joe Slovo informal settlement were relocated to the Langa civic centre.
Naude said thousands of people were affected by the rains.
”The cost of the damage can’t be assessed at this stage but it could run into millions of rands,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is unclear what effect the rains have had on Western Cape dams, below their normal levels because of drought.
A city official, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the weighted average of the five major dams — Wemmershoek, the upper and lower Steenbras dams, Voëlvlei and Theewaterskloof — has actually decreased.
Last Monday, this average stood at 27%, and on Monday it was 26,3%, a decrease of 0,7%.
However, the official said the decrease was lower than the average weekly decrease in the five dams of about 1,5%.
Also, a fairer reflection of the effect of the rains can be ascertained next week, once the run-off from the rain has been collected. — Sapa