National Park trails closed due to heavy rain
All day trails as well as the first day section of the famous Otter Trail are closed in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park (GRNP).
Nandi Mgwadlamba, spokesperson for SANParks, said, “This is due to the heavy and intermittent rain since yesterday, November 1 and this morning, November 2.” According to Mgwadlamba, the park has closed the trails as a precautionary measure for fear that hikers may slip because of wet conditions.
“The situation is closely monitored by the park’s trails division in both Bloukrans (Neil Swartz) as well as Storms River Mouth/Storms River (Victor Cunningham). The trails are expected to be open some time this week as very little rain is expected, mainly passing showers tomorrow.”
She said the park’s planned mountain biking fun ride in Knysna on Saturday, November 7 will also continue “as the weather is expected to clear by then”.
There are no reported flooded areas in the Knysna and Wilderness sections of the GRNP. Most hiking trails in the GRNP are in the forest areas.”
“According to the Cape Town office of the South African Weather Services (SAWS) the rain will clear by this afternoon and the situation will normalise,” said Wouter Jacobs, disaster management coordinator at the Eden District Municipality.
Reports received:
Knysna:
Several storm water infrastructure problems were reported and were taken care of by Knysna Municipality.
One house in Flamingo Street in Sedgefield was evacuated and the residents were taken in by family.
Three houses in Smutsville were drenched with rain water, no evacuations took place.
No road closures reported.
Bitou:
No complaints received.
No evacuations took place.
No road closures reported.
George:
Several storm water infrastructure problems were reported and were taken care of by George Municipality.
Several houses were drenched with rain water in the Syferfontein area but no evacuations took place
No road closures reported.
Mossel Bay:
Several storm water infrastructure problems were reported and were taken care of by Mossel Bay Municipality.
Two houses were drenched with rain water in the Asla area but no evacuations took place
No road closures reported.
Hessequa:
No complaints received.
No evacuations took place.
In Riversdale the Marais Street drift was closed due to heavy rain only as a precautionary measure.
Oudtshoorn:
No complaints received.
No evacuations took place.
Van der Riet Street in Oudtshoorn was closed due to heavy rain only as a precautionary measure.
Kannaland:
No complaints received.
No evacuations took place.
No road closures reported.