Videos: Garden Route floods leave 1 dead as hundreds evacuated

Acting Western Cape Premier Dr Ivan Meyer has likened the devastating Garden Route floods to the 1981 Laingsburg flood, saying early disaster preparedness prevented greater loss of life.

George Herald reports that one person, Lauren Fredericks, a social worker from Knysna, died after a tree fell on her car.

Meyer addressed the media at the Garden Route District Municipality’s offices yesterday afternoon, where the head of the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre, Gerhard Otto, gave an overview of the flood and response situation.

He said the province will approach national government for the declaration of a national disaster once a full assessment of the damage has been completed.

“If you look at the number of people who died during that period in 1981, and this is a similar flood, or even worse in some cases, then I think we need to thank this disaster management centre and the various municipalities. They have done an outstanding, world-class job to protect life.”

Climate change concerns

Meyer said the storm should be viewed as part of climate change rather than as an isolated disaster.

He referred to a February George Herald front-page article on the drought that George was facing “100 days ago”, as well as other disaster events in the area such as fires and disease outbreaks, including foot-and-mouth disease occurring locally and internationally.

He said climate change would become a central focus in government and municipal planning.

Early warnings limited impact

Otto said accurate and early weather warnings from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) enabled the Western Cape and Garden Route disaster management centres to activate well in advance.

The first adverse weather advisory was issued on May 3.

When warning levels increased from Level 6 to Level 8, authorities realised the storm would severely impact the region.

“Many times our storms come as far as the Overberg and then they move into the sea. This one was a bit different. This one was coming over the Karoo. We knew it was going to hit us and hit as badly.”

Otto said school closures were only the third weather-related closures in the province, but described the decision as wise.

Preparations included deploying four SAPS swift water rescue teams from Cape Town, with two stationed in Oudtshoorn and two in Knysna.

Estuary breaching in vulnerable low-lying areas also helped prevent severe flooding.

George Municipality was praised for proactive work completed after previous flooding incidents. Otto said infrastructure improvements in Hope Street, where residents previously required evacuation by boat, ‘worked like a charm’.

The clearing of the Kat River also prevented flooding in Denneoord.

Worst-hit areas

The Langkloof remains the only severely affected area in the George municipal region, with no electricity from the Herold turn-off to Uniondale.

Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn and the Langkloof were among the hardest-hit areas.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated after homes were damaged, roofs blown off and informal settlements flooded.

Electricity outages, communication failures and water supply disruptions remain major concerns.

About 76 people remain trapped in the De Vlugt area. Areas beyond Angie’s G Spot are still inaccessible, with an EMS helicopter expected to deliver food parcels and medical care.

Helicopter surveillance is also planned for the inaccessible Kammanassie area.

In Uniondale, a water tanker is supplying water after the main pipeline from the dam to the town was washed away.

“They have an emergency pump and a generator there to provide the town with water.”

Meiringspoort damage extensive

In Meiringspoort, access roads were closed early as water levels rose sharply.

A truck initially reported missing was discovered yesterday morning. Authorities confirmed the driver and co-driver are safe. The Oudtshoorn Courant reports they were completely cut off from assistance for nearly 60 hours, before being evacuated by helicopter.

Otto said the poort suffered severe flooding and helicopter surveys would determine the full extent of the damage. He warned repairs were expected to take a long time.

Due to flooding of the Grobbelaars River, 64 people, including 42 tourists from Namibia, were trapped at the Kango Mountain Resort.

The Knysna and Bitou municipal areas were among the worst affected, with about 460 people evacuated. Informal settlements sustained severe storm damage.

Restoring water supply in Bitou remains a major concern as treatment facilities are still inaccessible.

Economic impact highlighted

Meyer said only four of the region’s 40 clinics and hospitals were significantly affected.

He praised churches, non-governmental organisations, farmers and community groups for assisting affected residents.

Evacuations and humanitarian relief efforts are continuing.

Meyer emphasised the economic importance of the Garden Route to tourism, agriculture and job creation, warning the disaster would affect the Western Cape economy and gross domestic product.

District remains on high alert

The Garden Route District Municipality yesterday afternoon provided an update on ongoing relief efforts.

Relief and shelter operations continue across the district as communities remain affected by severe weather conditions.

River and dam levels are slowly subsiding, allowing access to some flooded critical infrastructure. Repairs to water and sewerage pump stations have been prioritised.

SAWS has forecast another cold front for Sunday and Monday.

While the new system is expected to affect other parts of the province more severely, western parts of the Garden Route may still be impacted.

Authorities said the district remains on high alert, with flood after-effects expected to continue for at least another week.

Roads and infrastructure

The Robinson Pass between Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay reopened yesterday.

However, officials are still dealing with ponding caused by a blocked culvert about four metres deep on the N2 near Plettenberg Bay.

Repair work is underway and the N2 remains open with alternative routes available.

Rainfall totals include 300mm in Plettenberg Bay, 258mm in George and 181mm in De Rust.

Mop-up operations are under way and are expected to continue into next week.

Rescue operations continue

Authorities confirmed several rescue missions were completed in Oudtshoorn and Kannaland.

According to Oudtshoorn Courant, a mother and her newborn baby were airlifted to safety from Calitzdorp Hot Springs after rising floodwaters from the Olifants River cut off access to the road leading to their residence, leaving them isolated from medical services.

Two more people are expected to be extracted from the Gamka Nature Reserve, while medical supplies have already been delivered.

Approximately 250 people across the district still require assistance.

Cut-off areas in Oudtshoorn include Rietvlei, Middelplaas, Kleinspoort and Bakenskraal, where additional food parcel deliveries are planned.

In Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, many displaced residents remain housed in community halls.

Authorities said all main routes are accessible, but urged residents and travellers to avoid secondary and gravel roads, which remain wet and, in some places, inaccessible.

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