eam to assess Mattafin storm damage

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Pretoria - A team has been dispatched to Mattafin in Mpumalanga to assess the damage caused by a heavy storm on Tuesday night.

According to the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the thunderstorm damaged houses in Mattafin under the Mbombela Local Municipality as well as Langeloop and Kwa Mhlushwa in Nkomazi Local Municipality.

The department's MEC, Norman Mokoena, decided to dispatch a disaster management team to the affected areas to conduct an assessment to determine the extent of the damage and if there is any disaster relief aid that must be dispatched to the area.

As an immediate relief effort, the department has provided blankets and tents to the affected families in the Nkomazi Municipality.

The department has also advised all municipalities to be on full alert and on standby for any possible storms as more rains are expected in the province.

"We welcome the rains, during this time of year and due to the water scarcity we are faced with but l also urge communities to be on alert during this rainy season for any possible floods or storms," said Mokoena.

He was expected to visit Mattafin later today.

Incidents of floods can be reported to the department's disaster toll free number on 0800202507.