Home » Vaal Dam Over 80% Full as Floods Bring Relief… But Sadly, Also Fatalities

Vaal Dam Over 80% Full as Floods Bring Relief… But Sadly, Also Fatalities

The Vaal Dam is now over 81.64% full. Gauteng Weather said: “Massive 10,02 percentage rise in 24 hours alone! What a week it has been. We are getting closer to 100%.” According to projections, the dam is likely to cross the 85% mark late Thursday as there are still huge volumes of inflow water. Gauteng Weather […]

23-02-17 16:51

The Vaal Dam is now over 81.64% full. Gauteng Weather said: “Massive 10,02 percentage rise in 24 hours alone! What a week it has been. We are getting closer to 100%.”

According to projections, the dam is likely to cross the 85% mark late Thursday as there are still huge volumes of inflow water.

Gauteng Weather said this latest figure is a two-year high. Yesterday they compared the volume of water being received as being equivalent to almost one Olympic-sized swimming pool EVERY SECOND.

It’s an incredible difference from three months ago when the level was so dangerously low – at 26% – that water was released from the Sterkfontein Dam to help replenish the Vaal Dam.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for possible flooding with plenty of storms active over the western half of Gauteng at present. The North West is also on alert.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta)has issued safety tips for the public, who may be caught in floods, saying that while the rains have brought relief and substantially increased dam levels, flooding has caused havoc in parts of the country.

“Sadly, we have received unconfirmed reports of fatalities within the Northern Cape and North West provinces as a result of flooding.

“We convey our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have thus far lost their lives due to the current rains. You are in our prayers,” said Cogta Minister Des van Rooyen.

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