Those attempting to leave Arniston yesterday didn’t get very far as a nearby river burst its banks and this was the sight that greeted approaching motorists. Image: Ruben Swart.
More than 300 residents of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village have been evacuated after a nearby river burst its banks. Disaster management spokesperson, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, says after persistent rains, the Sir Lowry’s Pass River reached its water level capacity and burst its banks.
Approximately 18 000 people have been affected by flash floods across the Cape Peninsula this weekend. Solomons-Johannes says the residents of Sir Lowry’s Pass Village have been moved to safe areas in Somerset West and Strand.
“About 300 people were evacuated outside the Sir Lowry’s Pass village and is currently in the Somerset West and Strand community hall and a local church. Disaster management will transport the residents back to their homes but we are continuing to ensure all rocks that are unstable are removed and all roads works are cleared across the city that were affected.”
The affected areas included Delft, Faure, Fish Hoek, Gugulethu, Hout Bay, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Macassar, Phillippi, Scarborough, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West, Strand and Vahalla Park.
The flooding caused numerous rockfalls, mudslides and landslides along mountainous areas.
Provincial disaster management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said systems were in place to ensure people were protected from floods.
Persistent rain had caused the Lourensford River to burst its banks.
She said 70 residents from Kays Caravan Park were placed at the Garden Village hall and 129 patients were evacuated at the Vergelegen Medi-Clinic in Somerset West last night and taken to neighbouring hospitals.
Earlier, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said members brought sea rescue vehicles and jet-ski’s to rescue the patients. NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that by 2.30am Saturday morning, most patients and staff had been evacuated.
Meanwhile, the body of a woman who was reported missing after heavy rains lashed the Western Cape this weekend has been found. The 46 year-old woman was on her way to church with a friend when flood waters swept away their car at Jonkershoek in Stellenbosch.
This brings to two the number of fatalities from this weekend’s flash floods across the province. The body of the first victim was found by rescuers on Saturday.
Provincial department of transport spokesperson Al-Ameen Kafaar said Chapman’s Peak drive in Cape Town was closed until further notice.
“A maintenance team is busy clearing up the debris on the road.”
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