Homes were flooded and evacuated while roads were completely washed away or submerged by water, as heavy downpours lashed several Wild Coast towns and other parts of the Eastern Cape on Monday.
According to the SA Weather Service, Port Edward received 100.4mm between 8am on Sunday and 8am on Monday. Coffee Bay received 104.8mm and Port St Johns 75.4mm.
At Coffee Bay some gravel roads were washed away and 10 guests leaving the popular Ocean View Hotel had to have their vehicles towed after being trapped in the muddy terrain.
For several parched areas of the province the rain brought welcome relief. East London and Mthatha received 35.4mm and 36.8mm, while Stutterheim (28mm) and Komani (21.8mm) also enjoyed the downpours.
No rain was recorded for drought-stricken Makhanda, but by 8am Port Alfred had received 15mm.
The SA Weather Service said heavy rainfalls would continue on Tuesday, particularly between the Fish River and Port Edward. It is expected to start clearing early on Wednesday.
But the wet weather, which turned many dirt roads to sludge, was not relished by all.
Ocean View Hotel general manager Marco Oosthuizen said the rain began on Sunday evening and did not relent.
“At about 7am [on Monday] you could still get over the bridge leading to the hotel, but half an hour later it was completely under water,” he said.
“From last night up until now we recorded about 120mm.”
Both Port St Johns mayor Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo and OR Tambo district municipal spokesperson Ayongezwa Lungisa said some families had been evacuated from the low-lying KwaGreen, a residential area between the town and Second Beach, after many of the houses were flooded...