Residents at Riverlands evacuated again following renewed flooding

Residents at Riverlands in the Swartland Municipality on the Cape West Coast are evacuating their homes and loved ones to safety again.

Wide-scale flooding hit the area following an alleged failed attempt to drain the fourth dam via new spillway. 

Three dam walls collapsed in the area last Thursday, leaving hundreds of people destitute, damaging infrastructure such roads and railway tracks.

A resident, Donovan Manual, explains what is happening: “The water is coming, and the water levels is rising. People are standing around. Loaders are trying to catch some people whose still trapped, trying to drive them with the loader over the water. But I think they must do it fast because the water levels are still rising.”

The municipality says the National Department of Water and Sanitation specialists on site decided to further lower the dam levels via a newly dug spillway.

It says in a statement this has triggered the unexpected fast release of water, following the path it carved last week.

The organization, Gift of the Givers is currently on site delivering humanitarian aid.

Video: Wide-scale flooding in Riverlands: Emily Thomas

The Swartland Municipality says no injuries or deaths have been recorded following the renewed flooding this afternoon.

“We’ve had several people being treated for shock this afternoon which is normal, the first event caused a fair amount of trauma and EMS is on site this afternoon treating affected residents in the clinic,” says Municipal spokesperson, Mart-Marie Haasbroek.

Residents evacuated as there are more floods in Riverlands: