Three missing, 3000 evacuated as floods hit Eastern Cape

This follows after numerous videos were shared on social media showing the town at a standstill with residents and cars unable to move due to heavy rainfall and floods.

The South African Weather Service had issued an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall expected over the central and eastern parts of the Eastern Cape from Thursday to Friday.

OR Tambo District Municipality spokesperson Zimkitha Macingwane says three people have been reported missing.

“There are also three people that have been reported missing in Lusikisiki. The OR Tambo disaster and risk management team together with the South African Police Services divers are on their way to the village to gather more information in relation to those who have been reported last or missing following the heavy rainfall on Thursday.

“Electricity outage in Port St Johns has resulted to network connectivity being a problem and the water treatment work under the OR Tambo District Municipality is also nonfunctional which means that some areas are currently having a water outage.”

Meanwhile, provincial Cooperative Governance spokesperson Pheello Oliphant says scores of people have been left displaced with several buildings in town flooded.

“The heavy downpours severely flooded and displaced scores of people. Houses were washed away, trees uprooted, town hall flooded, shops, businesses and the museum were also flooded.

“Many people were affected; many schools were run off and washed away by water particularly schools in the low laying areas. the most affected areas were the informal settlements. Plus minus 3000 people were evacuated and were taken to a community hall and a green field.”

Oliphant added that there was localised damage to vehicles, power polls uprooted , cell phone towers were uprooted making connectivity difficult and schools in the area remain closed.

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