Garden Route Multi-Agency Command Centre Alert 9 on 8 May 2026 at 10h00

Issued by Garden Route District Municipality

UPDATE ON CURRENT FLOODING TROUGHOUT THE GARDEN ROUTE

Weather conditions across the district have improved today, with clearer skies and access restored to many affected areas. The main priority today is to assess isolated communities and identify where humanitarian support is needed.

With assistance from the EMS emergency helicopter, reconnaissance flights will take place over cut-off areas, starting in Leeu-Gamka West and Calitzdorp, before moving to De Vlugt and parts of the Langkloof.

Some areas in the Langkloof, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna are still without electricity. Eskom has been requested to prioritise power restoration, especially where electricity is needed for water pumping and sanitation services.

Rescue teams will also continue efforts to reach a group of scholars stranded below the Raubenheimer Dam at the Cango Mountain Resort. Contact was made with the group last night, and humanitarian assistance will be provided today.

Efforts for the rest of the day will mainly focus on reopening key provincial roads. National routes have largely reopened, while restoring the internal road network remains a priority.

AREAS INACCESSIBLE

The following areas remain inaccessible due to flooding and infrastructure damage:

Oudtshoorn Municipal area
– Middelplaas
– Volmoed
– Cango Bergoord
– De Oude Meul
– Moeras River
– Proefplaas
– Meiringspoort.

Kannaland Municipal area
– Paardebont (close to Van Wyksdorp)
– Middelpad at Calitzdorp Hot Springs
– Gamka-Oos

George Municipal area
– Mount Hope (past Zebra)
– De Vlugt
– Kammanassie

Bitou Municipal area
– SNK & Fisantehoek
– Wittedrift

Humanitarian assistance has been requested from Gift of the Givers, with five-day food parcels being prepared for delivery. Air support may be utilised where possible.

Only follow
Follow municipal Facebook Pages and WhatsApp Channels for updates in town areas:

• Garden Route District Municipality 
• Hessequa Municipality
• Mossel Bay Municipality
  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaObfDbBadmjaxmERb0d
• George Municipality
  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRHVS9HAdNXTJPKis3k
• Knysna Municipality
  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaddGzkKwqSX9z7fPm2V
• Bitou Municipality
  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb5xx5wGE56kaY90693M
• Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality
  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VagZwTjHgZWmFke9An2N
• Kannaland Municipality

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The Garden Route District Municipality Disaster Management Unit encourages the public to report flood-related incidents to the 24/7 Emergency Call Centre of the GRDM – 044 805 5071 or WhatsApp 081 709 5193