As residents throughout the inland provinces of South Africa repair the damage to their homes caused by unexpectedly heavy and torrential rains, residents in the Northern Cape are now being warned to take extra care as flood waters move towards the coast.
The Department of Water Affairs has issued a flood warning to residents in the province who live close to the Vaal and Orange River confluence.
The Department of Water Affairs has issued a flood warning to residents in the province who live close to the Vaal and Orange River confluence as fast-rising water levels are expected there.
A flood peak of 5 140 cubic metres a second is expected to hit Upington on Thursday and the department has warned residents to expect river levels to rise sharply.
According to a statement released by the DWAF, in the Vaal and Orange River catchment areas, the Vaal Dam is now 101% full and the outflow from the dam has been reduced to 1 120 cubic metres a second. There are ten flood gates open.
The capacity at the Bloemhof Dam was now 98% but it was expected to rise to 101% by Thursday as water from the Vaal Dam reaches it.
The Gariep Dam is at 117% capacity and its outflow was expected to increase to 2 300 cubic metres a second. Moreover the Vanderkloof Dam is at 113% capacity and water was flowing from it at the rate of 2 430 cubic metres a second.
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