300 000 properties have no power as snow and rain batter Eastern Cape
An Eastern Cape MEC has urged residents to cancel their trips as severe weather grips parts of the province.
Around 300 000 properties in 13 towns experienced power outages.
Several areas in Butterworth, Mthatha and Mqanduli are flooded.
Hundreds of thousands of properties in 13 Eastern Cape towns have no power amid heavy snowfall, disruptive winds, and rain in the province on Tuesday.
In addition, Eastern Cape Cogta MEC Zolile Williams urged residents to cancel their trips if necessary and advised motorists to take extra precautions in snow-prone areas.
'Our disaster management teams are on alert, but we are urging people to cancel their trips if necessary and prioritise their safety,' Williams' spokesperson, Pheello Oliphant, told News24 on Tuesday morning.
Several areas in Butterworth, Mthatha and Mqanduli are flooded, and motorists in low-lying areas are stranded after their vehicles became submerged in water.
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Mnquma Local Municipality spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane said four vehicles were submerged on the route between Butterworth and Mission Village.
'Fortunately, there were no fatalities. Several areas like Skiet and Eugene informal settlements near Butterworth had their homes flooded and had to be evacuated. Schooling has also been affected in some areas of Butterworth because of a lack of access due to floods,' Mpalantshane added.
Electricity supply was cut off to about 300 000 customers in Mthatha, Qumbu, Tsolo, Elliotdale, Matatiele, KwaBhaca, Bizana, EmaXesibeni, Elliot, Komani, Dutywa, Butterworth and Cofimvaba.
'Eskom teams are preparing to make the areas safe and start restoring electricity supply. We appeal to customers for patience during this strenuous period,' the power utility said.
READ | N2 highway closed 'to save lives' amid snowfall in KZN, Eastern Cape
In the Gogozayo village in Mqanduli, the roof of resident Nosipho Mzaidume's home blew off.
'My goods and many other things inside the house are wet and destroyed. I am just praying that it does not get worse than this.
'One of the teachers had her car submerged while going to school. Luckily, she did not get hurt,' Mzaidume said.
In Tyekelebende Village in Dutywa, community leader Zamekile Zodala said: 'We have had a power outage since the early hours of Tuesday. Many residents have made calls to Eskom, but our concern is when are they going to restore the power when several other areas are affected.'
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