Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
URGENT FLOOD WARNINGS 14 FEBRUARY 1996 13:00
VERY SERIOUS FLOODS ARE IN THE OFFING. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has issued a serious flood warning in the light of the current weather forecasts. The Weather Bureau stated that this is the most serious rain forecast since their inception. The areas where heavy downpours are predicted are Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, North West, Northern Province - more or less everywhere north of the Orange River.
Very heavy downpours are predicted in these areas and danger situations can occur before , but especially from approximately twelve o'clock (midnight). In the Durban/Richards Bay areas in KwaZulu/Natal 50 mm of rain have already been measured between 08:00 and 11:00 this morning.
Along the Vaal River various bridges have already been inundated and the river has burst its banks in several places.
People are warned to exercise extreme caution in order to ensure their own safety and to mimimise property losses.
ENQUIRIES: MARIE ASHPOLE: TEL: (012) 299 2526 ANTIONETTE PIETERSEN: TEL: (012) 299 3313 OR: CELL: 082 807 3547