LIMPOPO – Localised flooding caused by tropical storm Eloise this weekend destroyed bridges, resulted in roofs being blown off, and left many without shelter in the Vhembe and Mopani districts. Eloise made landfall in Beira, Mosambique late on Friday evening, and led to heavy downpours across the province. A number of houses in the Collins Chabane, Musina, Makhado, and Greater Letaba municipal areas were damaged and to date, the Department of Social Development have identified 78 families which were displaced due to the storm.
Vhembe District Municipality Communications Manager, Matodzi Ralushai said a number of villages were affected.
“Low-lying areas experienced localised flooding in Louis Trichardt and Tshakhuma village, which is close to the Lutanandwa River. We have received reports from a number of other areas and we want to appeal to residents to not go near the river or cross areas where bridges are under water,” said Ralushai.
He said within the Thulamela Municipality, the team also reported that there are houses that have been washed away.
“We have assessed Tshidzini, Kone, Makonde, Bunzhe, Tshaulu,Tshidzini, and Tshivhilwi villages and provided support in the form of food parcels. We are also assessing other communities. We know that in Thulamela, small bridges at Mbahe, Dzimaulwi, Khubvi and Sambandou have been affected. Houses were damaged in Mavhambe and Saselemane, but since Sunday we have not received injury reports,” he said.
He told CV that in the Musina area, the bridge from Musodi to Lupepe was also under water, and needs to be checked for damage. “Musina itself also experienced localised flooding, which affected the power line in the water pumping system along the Limpopo River which resulted in a shortage of water on Sunday. Damaged houses were also reported in Dambale, Band Mutale, and Tshiungani. The communities of Tshikota were also affected by a shortage of water due to the electricity lines being affected,” he said.
Departmental Spokesperson, Witness Tiva explained that teams of social workers and community development practitioners as well as disaster management officers from the affected areas, are hard at work assisting the affected households. “Relief in the form of food parcels, dignitary packs, blankets and other basic amenities, are being distributed to the affected households.”
He added that the number of affected families may increase as assessments, by social workers, government officials and practitioners, continue in the affected areas.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Basikopo Makamu is set to visit the families that were highly affected by the storm on Wednesday. After Tshakhuma, the MEC will proceed to Mbaleni and Makonde villages respectively.
More rain could be expected as Limpopo is currently in the rainy season and residents are warned to stay away from water-locked areas.
