Eastern Cape dam caves in

2003-03-25 18:59

Cape Town - A section of the Bellair dam wall, a secondary dam between Barrydale and Touws River, "gave in" early on Tuesday following the heavy rains in the Montagu area in the Western Cape.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Patrick Lee, speaking from the joint operations centre, said a helicopter pilot had reported that part of the dam wall was swept away.

A farmhouse, which was caught in the path of the water, was flooded, although no injuries were reported.

The heavy rains fell in Montagu, Barrydale, Ashton and Robertson on Sunday and Monday morning. Roads were blocked, roofs blown off and homes flooded during the storms.

Lee said he was unaware of an SABC radio report that an irrigation dam in a private nature reserve between Montagu and Barrydale had been swept away following the rains.

Meanwhile, about 500 people mainly from Montagu and the McGregor area were being housed in community halls in Montagu after their homes were flooded.

Lee said Western Cape safety and security MEC Leonard Ramatlakane, social services MEC Maraius Fransman and agriculture, tourism and gambling MEC Johan Gelderblom were being escorted by police through Montagu, which was worst affected by the floods. Moves were already under way to have the area declared a disaster zone.

Boland disaster management spokesperson Roy Veldman said four Oryx helicopters and one helicopter from metro emergency services were conducting aerial surveys of the area on Tuesday.

He said blankets and food had been donated by the community and the Montagu municipality to people whose homes had been flooded. Correctional Services had also provided aid to flood victims.

- SAPA