CAPE TOWN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people have been displaced after retention dams collapsed, causing flooding and destroying homes in South Africa's southwestern province of Western Cape, local authorities said on Friday.
The incident occurred on Thursday near the town of Malmesbury in Swartland, north of Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa.
According to a statement released by the Swartland Municipality on Friday, the cause of the incident was that three dams on a property known as Dassenberg breached, causing severe flooding in parts of Riverlands, outside Malmesbury.
"Following intense investigations yesterday, it was discovered that the third dam in a series of four dams initiated the breach, resulting in the first and second dams being overwhelmed, resulting in the extensive and devastating flood affecting Riverlands," said the municipal government in the statement.
"The fourth dam is currently stable and is continuously monitored. Efforts to partially drain this dam, as a precautionary measure, will commence later today," it noted, adding that "the dams are located within the municipal borders of the City of Cape Town."
The Swartland Municipality also said the flood caused severe property and infrastructure damage to the affected area, and the water network and supply has been destroyed leaving the town without potable water.
A total of 14 people were transported to hospital with minor injuries or hypothermia, according to the statement. 444 people received humanitarian support and 224 people will be housed at a local church and a community center.
While earlier media reports said two people went missing as a result of the incident, Anton Bredell, Western Cape minister of local government, environmental affairs and development planning, said: "At this moment, no fatalities or missing persons have been reported."
He said in a statement that his department is currently assessing the damage to property and infrastructure.
As the incident is widely believed to be related to recent heavy rains in the province, "we urge residents to stay safe and remain vigilant, as the South African Weather Service has predicted more rainfall for the coming weekend," Bredell said.
"We ask that community members remain calm and follow the instructions of emergency officials on the ground," he added.
