South Africa: Flooding of the Kouga Dam forces residents of Gamtus Valley out of their homes

• Disaster teams are rushing to relocate families to two community halls as the Kouga Dam fills with floodwaters.

• The dams of Nelson Mandela Bay are filling rapidly but local leaders are urging people to follow strict disaster management instructions.

Rising flood waters are driving families from their homes in the Eastern Cape.

Kouga Municipality asked people living in Gamtus Valley to pack up and move out.

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Kouga Dam has hit 113% capacity and is posing a serious flood risk to surrounding communities.

Disaster teams opened safe shelters at Katrina Felix Hall and Lowry Community Hall in Thornhill.

Kingsway Village, Big Fish, Gamtoos Mouth Resort, Ferry Hotel and all lower valley areas should be avoided.

Kouga Mayor Heting Borneman warned people near the Krome River to be on high alert as the situation could worsen.

The municipality asked farmers to move their animals, tractors and cars to higher ground to avoid serious damage caused by the floods.

“Please avoid all river crossings and flooded roads,” Borneman said.

Many roads are submerged in water and closed. These include the R102 road from the Ferry Hotel to Thornhill and the stretch between Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp.

Weston Bridge and Patensie Bridge on the R330 are also flooded. Roads around Aston Bay and gravel roads next to the Gamtus River are closed.

Heavy rain has brought some good news for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The dam level rose from 39% to more than 76% in just two days.

Churchill, Groenendaal, Lowry and Kouga dams are completely full. The Impofu Dam is at 65% and water levels are rising due to Churchill Dam overflowing into it.

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the rising water was a big relief. But he warned that the danger was far from over and disaster teams were responding to flooded communities.

“Rains continue and many areas are flooded, so we urge residents to cooperate with disaster management officials on the ground so we can limit injuries and avoid deaths,” Lobische said.