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Hundreds of Nelson Mandela Bay residents have fled their homes throughout the night as heavy rain flooded their homes.

Following a level 6 warning for heavy rain issued on Monday, Mayor Gary van Niekerk and his disaster management teams had to work throughout the night to evacuate people from their homes, particularly in the Kariega area, where the water canal running across Gibbon Street began to flood.

Always there when needed most, Gift of the Givers has also deployed its teams to assist with the relief efforts.

Spokesperson Ali Sablay says, “We are currently in contact with the local disaster management team, who are identifying and trying to evacuate residents currently. Our teams will be assisting as an urgent list has been sent to us of blankets, mattresses, personal hygiene care items and hot meals for flood victims that will be accommodated in school halls and churches.”

Sablay added that the organisation would send water tankers from Adelaide to areas where there is no drinking water.

Nelson Mandela Bay municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the Kruisrivier bridge was collapsing and multiple roads in Gqeberha were closed due to flooding.

These include Perseverance Crossing, Bethelsdorp Road, Bertram Road, Willow Dam, Rensburg Street, Kleinskool Crossing, Standford Road, Kariega Durban Road, and Madina Street. Sections of the N2 and M4 have also been affected.

There are multiple power outages and according to the municipality, several circuit breakers have tripped. The ongoing severe weather may hamper efforts to reconnect the power supply.

Emergency calls are pouring in as floods hit Gqerberha and Kariega in the Eastern Cape.Several areas are being evacuated and community members are being transported to school halls and churches. Kwanobuhle is without drinking water as a water plant has been flooded.#SABCNews pic.twitter.com/1dQI6q6uM3

— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) October 22, 2024

Eastern Cape – Gqeberha: #Flooding wide-spread flooding after heavy rains #DriveSafe pic.twitter.com/I6DyjjvtHu

— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) October 22, 2024

[source:heraldlive&news24]