Flooding in Central Karoo

Flooding in Central Karoo

 10 April, 2017

 The Prince Albert and Klaarstroom areas were affected by a massive thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon, 9 April 2017 which resulted in several flooding incidents.

 The Meiringspoort pass was closed due to the flooding and a bus with passengers, which was trapped in the pass, was brought to safety.  No other vehicles were trapped.  The pass will be closed until late Monday (10 April 2017) for repairs by the Provincial Roads Department.

 An ambulance transporting a patient en route from Klaarstroom to Prince Albert Hospital was affected 30km outside Prince Albert by the flooding.

The crew and patient were unharmed however the vehicle was washed away.  A private vehicle with four passengers was also affected, whereby three passengers were rescued. One female is still missing, believed to have been washed away.  Search and Rescue teams are still on the scene.

 A great deal of damage was caused to the Swartberg Pass between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn.  The road on Prince Albert side is damaged and the Swartberg Pass will be closed until further notice.

 Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) situated in the Swartberg Pass can be reached via Oudtshoorn. Repairs by technical teams from Central Karoo District Municipality is currently underway.

 Finally, water supply infrastructure for Prince Albert was damaged which includes the boreholes in Swartberg Pass as well as the reservoir which provides drinking water to the town. Prince Albert Municipality has the situation under control and is currently doing everything in their power to restore water to the town.

 Afrikaans:

 Die Prins Albert en Klaarstroom omgewing is Sondagmiddag 09 April 2017 getref deur ’n geweldige donderstorm wat verskeie oorstromings veroorsaak het in die gebied.

 Die Meiringspoort moes gesluit word weens die oorstromings en ’n bus met passasiers wat vasgekeer was in die Poort is na veiligheid gebring. Geen verdere voertuie is in Meiringspoort vasgekeer nie. Die Poort sal gesluit wees tot laat Maandagmiddag (10 April 2017) as gevolg van herstelwerk deur die Provinsiale Paaie Departement.

 ’n Ambulans met ’n pasiënt wat op pad was van Klaarstroom na Prins Albert Hospitaal het in ’n oorstroming beland 30 Km voor Prince Albert. Die bemanning en pasiënt is ongedeerd, maar die voertuig is meegesleur. ’n Privaat voertuig het ook op die toneel in die vloedwater beland. Van die vier insittendes is drie na veiligheid gebring. Die vierde persoon word nog vermis in die vloedwater en soek- en reddingspanne is tans besig op die toneel.

 Groot skade is deur die storm aangerig aan die Swartbergpas tussen Prince Albert en Oudtshoorn. Die pad aan die Prince Albert kant is beskadig en die Swartbergpas sal vir ’n onbepaalde tyd gesluit wees. Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) wat in die Swartberge op hierdie Pas geleë is, sal wel vanaf Oudtshoorn-kant met die Swartbergpas bereik kan word. Tegniese Spanne van Sentraal Karoo Distriksmunisipaliteit is tans besig met beplanning en herstelwerk aan die skade.

 Tydens hierdie storm is die watertoevoer na Prins Albert dorp erg beskadig. Dit sluit in van die boorgate in die Swartbergpas sowel as ’n reservoir wat drinkwater voorsien aan die dorp. Die Prins Albert Munisipaliteit het die situasie onder beheer en doen alles in hulle vermoë om die watertoevoer te herstel.  

 ENDS.