Toti takes stock after flooding

ROCK slides, embankment collapses, train derailments, flooded roads and mop-up operations.

That’s what Amanzimtoti had to deal with after Mother Nature flexed her muscles with a deluge of torrential rain falling from Monday 25 July that caused havoc and extensive damage to private, municipal and public infrastructure.

Rupert Pretorius recorded an incredible 345mm of rainfall from Sunday to Wednesday morning at his Launceston Road premises, while other reports claim over 400mm.

Emergency services had their hands full trying to cope with re-opening roads that were closed due to flooding, rock slides and embankment collapses.

“Stormwater systems, while largely functional, were unable to cope with the sheer volume of water allegedly not experienced in the area since 1987,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.

The N2 southbound was backlogged to Galleria on Tuesday as a result of a landslide and rocks on the road surface before the Seadoone off-ramp.

Mayville Terrace suffered a huge embankment collapse on Tuesday evening, due to a blocked stormwater drain and a barrage of mud and rocks were strewn across Kingsway.

Doonheights resident Bees Beukes had his neighbour boundary wall collapse and tons of mud flow into his Chestnut Lane yard at about 6pm on Monday evening, 25 July. “It sounded like an earthquake. I couldn’t open my back door with all the mud pressed up against it,” he said.

A property in Meranti Turn in Doonheights suffered damage when the stream that runs through it turned into a raging river after Monday’s rain.

“We have contacted the ward councillor and municipality on numerous occasions to assist us with the closure of the reserve stream due to the continuous flooding caused by debris that flows down the stream and damages our property. Whenever there is a storm, we get flooded out and have to repair our fencing,” said home owner Debbie Bell.

The front of a passenger train derailed at Warner Beach on Tuesday morning. The train came to a standstill without damage and fortunately there were no injuries.

Kingsway through Warner Beach was under water and the downpours on Monday and Tuesday evening forced motorists to find alternative routes home, albeit journeys that took tedious hours to make due to traffic congestion.

“Residents must bear in mind repairs could become a drawn-out and tedious process, in turn effecting envisaged capital projects when funding has to be re-priotitised in accordance with damages incurred,” said Cllr Beetge.

A backlog remains with regard to power outages where in some cases masts or poles were unearthed, water outages as a result of pipes bursting or breaking away as soil washed away, road repairs due to washaways and unstable embankments, wastewater systems, and trees unearthed.

“We have been in communication with local municipal departments and have received commitment towards stabilising the situation to the best of their ability,” said Cllr Beetge.

“Residents are reminded that not all damages relate to municipal repair or responsibility – retaining embankments, ensuring proper drainage, and trees located within the parameters of private property remain essentially the responsibility of home owners.

To the many heroes who assisted with towing, blocking off streets, cutting trees, draining, pulling people to safety, and collecting food and clothing while emergency or other services were elsewhere occupied, thank you very much for standing up for your community.”