Ekurhuleni residents urged to report early signs of sinkholes due to heavy rainfalls
To avoid any injuries or fatalities, the City of Ekurhuleni encourages residents to take notes of early sinkhole signs in their premises due to the persistent rainfall.
The City of Ekurhuleni encourages citizens to keep an eye out for any early signs of sinkhole development on their properties due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.
The main causes of sinkholes are underground erosion brought on by continuous water line breaks and stagnant water.
The city is replacing outdated concrete pipes with more flexible ones that can tolerate unstable ground to reduce the risk of water pipe leaks and the subsequent formation of sinkholes. When the earth changes for any cause, these pipes may move with it without breaking.
Early warning indicators include a house that is tilted to one side, a modest sinking of the ground, and depressions or strange holes in the garden, no matter how tiny.
Due to the high dolomitic content of the area, the city of Ekurhuleni recommends residents hire professionals for any building or home extension projects.
These professionals are qualified to perform land surveys, navigate complex building conditions, and choose the right building materials for a given set of circumstances.
By doing this, you lessen the chance that sinkholes will damage your land.
The public is urged to report any suspicious sinkholes or dolomite indicators by calling 0860 543 000 or 011 999 4666 /4940, or by contacting their local customer care centre (CCC).
The city will dispatch a team of professionals to investigate and evaluate the situation as soon as the incident is reported. Depending on the level of risk identified, the affected residents may be asked to leave the land if the assessment confirms the sinkhole threat.
The area will be blocked off to prevent unauthorised access if an evacuation is advised. After that, a thorough geotechnical examination is carried out to ascertain the sinkhole’s magnitude and potential cause.
Then restoration work is done to return the region to its pre-damage state and a return schedule is given to the impacted residents.
The decision to evacuate is based on the threat, as shown by the professional investigation, thus the public is advised from attempting to enter a cordoned-off house as this could tragically result in fatalities.
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