The death toll in the Eastern Cape following yesterday’s incident in the OR Tambo district has risen from seven to nine overnight.
According to the provincial government, over the past two days, the heavy and perennial downpours have led to devastating flooding and landslides, resulting in multiple fatalities and significant damage to property and infrastructure.
A combined multi-disciplinary emergency services team has been established and continues to search for the school bus that was swept away with school children on Tuesday morning.
The search was suspended last night and was resumed this morning.
The government said the latest reports also indicate that in OR Tambo District Municipality, hundreds of people have been displaced and are housed in different community halls, while in Amathole district, more than 200 people have been relocated from Sikiti Informal Settlement to A.B. Bam Primary School, with hundreds of people from Eugene and Zithulele Informal Settlements housed atButterworth Town Hall.
Crippling power outages have also been reported in some areas due to the torrential rains in both district municipalities.
“In Amathole District, major damages also occurred to the Butterworth Water Treatment Works, where pumps and some electrical control panels submerged in water. As a result, the Treatment Works is currently unable to produce water. Assessment of damages have been conducted, and arrangements for urgent repairs are underway.
“Through South African South African Social Agency (SASSA), working together with the Department of Social Development and the affected municipalities, affected communities are provided with hot meals and essentials to those housed in community halls and temporary shelters,” the government said.
Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Mabuyane is currently in the district with disaster teams and cabinet members to oversee rescue efforts.
