More rain has pounded the already flood-ravaged Eden district in the southern Cape, sending hundreds of residents scrambling back to community halls as their homes were drenched again and clean-up operations became "useless" as more damage was caused.
The SA Weather Service warned "scattered thundershowers" of up to 30mm were expected in the area but would likely subside by Tuesday.
Last week torrential rains battered the southern Cape and Overberg for four days, resulting in more than 1 500 people having to be evacuated and a man and child drowning in the flood waters.
It was also estimated flooding caused more than R600-million in damage, and this figure was likely to climb.
Monday, just as the Eden district geared up for the second day to try to clear roads and open access points to the clusters of residents still cut off by water, more rain fell.
Gerard Otto, the Eden District Municipality's Disaster Management spokesperson, said mop-up operations had to be called off as it was "useless trying to clean up" in the wet weather.
"The rain is less than last week but it's very difficult to clean up in these conditions.
"The big machinery can't be used and we'll have to wait for better weather.
"We're expecting between 1 000 and 1 200 residents to come back to the community halls because their (homes) damaged last week are wet again because of this rain," he said.
Otto said only about 300 of the 1 500 people evacuated last week were staying in community halls by Sunday.
"It's almost like we've taken a step back.
"But we expect the rain to stop (today) and will begin mopping up again.
"There are a few groups of residents isolated by the water and we hope to open access points for them," he said.
Meanwhile, in the Overberg District Municipality on Monday it was "wet again" and minor flooding was reported near Swellendam.
The municipality's Disaster Management spokesperson, Reinard Geldenhuys, said clean-up operations were on schedule and conditions were not as bad as in the southern Cape.
At the weekend, Premier Ebrahim Rasool flew over the Eden district and estimated the damage caused by flooding would turn out to be more than R600-million.
A final figure would be available in the first week of December. - Cape Times
The SA Weather Service warned "scattered thundershowers" of up to 30mm were expected in the area but would likely subside by Tuesday.
Last week torrential rains battered the southern Cape and Overberg for four days, resulting in more than 1 500 people having to be evacuated and a man and child drowning in the flood waters.
| 'The rain is less than last week but it's very difficult to clean up in these conditions' |
Monday, just as the Eden district geared up for the second day to try to clear roads and open access points to the clusters of residents still cut off by water, more rain fell.
Gerard Otto, the Eden District Municipality's Disaster Management spokesperson, said mop-up operations had to be called off as it was "useless trying to clean up" in the wet weather.
"The rain is less than last week but it's very difficult to clean up in these conditions.
"The big machinery can't be used and we'll have to wait for better weather.
| 'But we expect the rain to stop (today) and will begin mopping up again' |
Otto said only about 300 of the 1 500 people evacuated last week were staying in community halls by Sunday.
"It's almost like we've taken a step back.
"But we expect the rain to stop (today) and will begin mopping up again.
"There are a few groups of residents isolated by the water and we hope to open access points for them," he said.
Meanwhile, in the Overberg District Municipality on Monday it was "wet again" and minor flooding was reported near Swellendam.
The municipality's Disaster Management spokesperson, Reinard Geldenhuys, said clean-up operations were on schedule and conditions were not as bad as in the southern Cape.
At the weekend, Premier Ebrahim Rasool flew over the Eden district and estimated the damage caused by flooding would turn out to be more than R600-million.
A final figure would be available in the first week of December. - Cape Times
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