George adds up damage cost

By Tando Mfengwana

The aftermath of the floods that swept over George caused at least R11 million worth of damage according to the disaster management teams’ cleaning after the torrents of water that the town has recorded in 24 hours.

Although rain continued to fall from time to time, the low pressure system that carried the torrent had moved up to Port Elizabeth, and East London.

In most Garden Route towns the floodwaters were moving back, but a number of roads were closed and some areas were without clean water and electricity were being put up and hundreds of people fed in community halls.

Acting Municipal Manager for George, Godfrey Lowe, said that police have yet to find the body of a fifth person believed to have drowned when the bridge over Molens River in the town collapsed. Lowe said 370 mm of rain had fallen in George between 6pm on Monday and 6pm Wednesday; 230 mm had fallen in the 24 hours from 8 am on Wednesday.

Oudtshoorn and significant parts of the Little Karoo has experienced some heavy downpours, and many rivers are flooded. The Oukloofdam close to Prince Albert is spilling over and farmers with their employees have been moved out of their homes.