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Picture Courtesy: (picture supplied) Residents of Port Elizabeth are looking forward to rebuilding their homes since the flood destroyed everything they had.
(The Post News)-Heavy rain in Port Elizabeth unleashed a torrent of water on Saturday evening, leaving parts of the city underwater, vehicles washed away and families displaced from their homes.
Current reports indicate that at least seven people have died, with four females still missing.
A man and a baby girl were found deceased in Kariega.
Emergency services have conducted over 60 rescues in Nelson Mandela Bay. Heavy rain and flooding have hit parts of Kariega, leading to road closures and vehicles being washed away. The Kariega Fire Station has also been flooded. Rescue operations are ongoing in Kariega and Gqeberha.
The heavy rain, which caught residents off guard, brought destruction and chaos to many neighbourhoods.
In the low-lying areas of Walmer and Gelvandale, streets became rivers, sweeping away cars,furniture and destrying infrastructure.
Families were trapped in their homes, watching in horror as the water rose higher and higher.
One resident in Kariega, Nomvula Mthatha, described the terrifying experience: “I thought it was the end for us. The rain was like a never-ending nightmare.”
Another resident, Noluthando Maphumulo, who was rescued from her Walmer home, described the terrifying experience: “We thought it was the end. The water rose so fast, we barely made it out alive. We’re grateful to be safe, but our home is gone.”
Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue those stranded, with rescue teams battling treacherous conditions to reach trapped residents.
Emergency services raced against time to rescue those stranded, but many were left to fend for themselves, clinging to rooftops and waiting for the waters to recede.
“It was a challenging operation, but our teams worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was safe,” said Rescue Team Leader, Johann Maree.
Maree added that “We have never seen flooding like this before. It’s devastating.”
The true extent of the damage is still unknown, but it’s clear that many lives have been affected severly by the weather conditions.
The flood-waters destroyed homes, businesses, and infrastructure, leaving many without electricity or running water.
“We’re doing our best to restore services, but it’s a massive task, We urge residents to be patient and work with us to rebuild our city,” said Municipal spokesperson, Andile Mgxodela.
Amidst the devastation, the community came together to support those affected. Neighbours helped neighbours, strangers became friends, and the spirit of Ubuntu (humanity towards others) shone bright.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our community like this, “But we’ll rebuild, stronger than before. We always do.” said resident, Thembela Mkalipi.
Residents are left to face the long road to recovery, but they say they know they are not alone. According to Maphumulo, “We’ll get through this, together. We always do.”
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