Supplied: Gift of the Givers
A Buffalo City teenager drowned when a “slow-moving storm” dumped between 20mm and 40mm of rain over parts of the Metro area on Saturday morning.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said according to the report, an 18-year-old from Unit 3 was found deceased after three people were reported missing after their shack was washed away.
He said two people were rescued by Buffalo City Municipality Fire Department officials while the body of the deceased was recovered by SAPS K9 search and rescue divers.
“An inquest docket is under investigation,” he said. The name of the deceased has not yet been released.
Algoa FM News understands that several people were also hospitalised.
Meanwhile, Buffalo City activated its Disaster Management teams including Fire and Traffic Services as well as Metro Law Enforcement.
Spokesperson Samnkelo Ngwenya said in a statement that their electricity and water standby teams were also attending to reported faults while others were attending to various flooding incidents in homes, particularly in informal settlements.
“We are undertaking evacuations in Mdantsane Zone 1 and teams are on-site in Zone 3 and 18. We are working with ward Councillors to provide disaster relief packages and alternative accommodation to the families whose homes have been swept (away) or invaded by water,” he said.
Ngwenya said as disaster operations continue, Buffalo City Metro also appealed to residents in low-lying areas to seek alternative accommodation.
Motorists were also advised to avoid overflowing drains as well as flooded roads and bridges.
The humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers, has also joined the relief effort following a visit to the affected areas by the mayor, Xola Pakati, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Xolile Nqatha.
Eastern Cape coordinator, Corene Conradie, said “hundreds of shacks” were damaged during the downpour.
She said the affected families were “heartbroken and in tears” and the little bit of food that people were able to salvage, was covered in mud.
Weather Office spokesperson, Garth Sampson, said since 8 am on Saturday, the “slow-moving storm” dumped between 20mm and 40mm of rain over Buffalo City Metro with damage reported mostly in Duncan Village and Mdantsane areas.
Some social media users also reported between 60mm and 80mm in some parts of the Metro.
