Deluge drowns out electricity in many parts of Toti
Electricity department says it is "trying our best with very limited resources at our disposal"
The deluge that has flooded large parts of Amanzimtoti has this evening left hundreds of local homes without electricity.
By 3pm today, some 132mm of rain was recorded in the previous 24 hours. But by 5pm, the torrential rain showed no signs of slowing and the roads were waterlogged as motorists started making their hour-long journeys home. A typical drive between Doonside and Athlone Park, which usually takes 10 minutes, lasted more than 90 minutes as traffic slowed to snail’s pace under the strain of the increased volume of traffic, waterlogged streets and flooded and closed road sections.
The power outage started from about 6.30pm, from Prospecton to Toti CBD and was still out after 8pm.
The old CBD area has been completely overrun by swathes of water that have blanketed Kingsway.
Rosslyn Road, behind the old CBD, is also underwater as water channelled down the stream next to the railway line and burst over on either side, drowning both roads. To make matters worse, Toti River threatened to burst its banks and overrun the CBD and lower Rosslyn Road adjacent to the lagoon at about 5pm.
The electricity department has explained that due to the heavy demand, there is an overload on the system as well as tripping.
“We are trying our best with very limited resources at our disposal. We are stretching our employees to a point where it is becoming a health hazard to work extended hours,” reads a statement issued by the electricity department which us being circulated on social media platforms.
“It will take time to restore power to everyone. They will be working throughout the night, but we might be short staffed again tomorrow as they will be recuperating.”
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