By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The death toll in the Nelson Mandela Bay floods in the Eastern Cape has risen to seven overnight, while four people are still missing.
Heavy rain and winds on Saturday night caused damage to property and municipal infrastructure.
In a statement on Sunday, NMB said four fatalities were reported in Kariega and two in Kabega Park and Walmer in Nelson Mandela Bay.
Among the deceased in Kariega are an 18-year-old woman, a child thought to be between three and four, and two men, aged 41 and 62.
The Buffalo City Executive mayor, Princess Faku, says they are on high alert and providing the necessary assistance.
“Those people that are affected we can assure them that by end of this week, by end of this week we will provide them temporal structures working with ward councillors and religious leaders to help us identify these families. We have engaged Minister Mamoloko Kubayi and the Premier Oscar Mabuyane, we are collecting the information.”
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro has identified five halls as temporary shelter for victims.
The MEC for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Zolila Williams is in Gqeberha to lead the provincial disaster management centre to assess the extent of the disaster and to visit the residents who have been adversely affected by the floods.
The worst affected area in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is Kariega where 540 people have been evacuated and placed in community halls.
In Kuyga, 530 people were evacuated; in Kwadwesi and Qunu, 200 people while 89 were evacuated in Langa and Greenfields.
Some schools in Kariega have also closed for the day and the transportation around Kariega has been disrupted due to the road closures.