29 July 2007
1. South region (Winterton)
Deaths and injuries
Reports indicate the death of a young child and the serious injury of
approximately twenty five people, who have been taken to hospital, of which
only four have remained in hospital
Damage
* 40 homesteads and eight labour houses were totally destroyed by fire with
about 38 dwellings suffering wind damage.
* 400 people were seriously affected / left destitute.
* Large stretches of power lines have been damaged and are being
repaired.
* Two horticultural tunnels have been destroyed.
* Water reticulation has been disrupted by the destruction of PVC piping.
* Fencing has been damaged over long distances.
* Twenty goats have been reported to have been killed by fire.
* Cattle were severely burned and had to be put down but numbers have to be
confirmed.
* Approximately 30 000 hectares (ha) of veld grazing were destroyed.
* Crop residue, hay, and pastures were all lost as a result of fire.
* Orchard / plantation damage will be confirmed.
Resources committed
The farmers with the assistance from Working for Fire have fought and
brought the fire under control. All Animal Health Technicians (AHT) and
Agricultural Technicians are on the ground. AHTs are assisting with destroying
seriously injured animals and negotiations are underway to move cattle to
abattoirs. Technicians are also assessing damage in Communal areas.
Actions taken
A meeting was called on the morning of 28 July at the Winterton farmer's
hall to set in motion the process to assess the damage and losses to the
community. The Department has undertaken to demarcate the area in question.
This will be followed by providing assessment forms to the farmers at the
meeting to be held at the farmer's hall on Monday, 30 July 2007. The assessment
will be done by the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs Risk
and Disaster Management Unit (Macro-planning) over a period of two weeks ending
on Friday, 10 August 2007.
In addition the local District disaster management team has met with the
community on the afternoon of 28 July 2007 to deal with emergency matters. A
hundred food parcels, fifty five tents and two hundred and fifty six blankets
were distributed.
Requests and assistance needed
The homeless are in very urgent need of food and shelter. However the
Department of Welfare and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have moved very
quickly to address these needs. The farming community is in desperate need of
fodder for their livestock after the destruction of their winter reserves by
the fire. Transport is also required for transport of seriously injured
livestock to Abattoirs from commercial and emerging farmers. The department
will stay in touch with the local farmers union and the local district disaster
management unit who are co-ordinating the activities at local level.
The department will collect the data of losses and damages from the
community, analyse it further and make recommendation in terms of assistance
recommended.
2. North region (eDumbe, eShowe/Umlazi, Nkandla, Umvoti)
Deaths and injuries
Reports indicate that there has been approximately 10 deaths at eDumbe,
(Greater Paulpietersburg area) one person at Entumeni (Eshowe), and one
Embongolowane. In terms of injuries, two people were seriously injured at
Nkandla area.
Damage
* Rough estimates of 1 800 square kilometres or 2 million hectares of veld
have been destroyed in areas of Newcastle, Dannhauser etc.
* 64 farms destroyed as reported by Amajuba Livestock Association.
* Approximately 2 000 dead sheep at eDumbe.
* 200 dead cows at eDumbe.
* 150 homesteads destroyed at eDumbe.
* 1 800 square kilometres of Timber destroyed eDumbe.
* 300ha of sugar cane at Entumeni (Eshowe) destroyed.
* 12 homesteads destroyed at Entumeni.
* 144 small farmers affected at Entumeni.
* 300ha of grazing land and 250ha sugar cane burnt at Embongolowane.
* 44 homesteads damaged at Embongolowane.
* 80ha grazing Land burnt at Enkanini.
* 150ha sugar cane and 250ha of grazing land burnt at Imvuzane.
* 21 homesteads destroyed at Nkandla.
* 2 goats / 50 indigenous fowls destroyed in Nkandla.
* DAEA Poultry Project destroyed (Structures, Cold Storage, 100 Fowls) in
Nkandla.
* 20ha grazing land destroyed in Nkandla.
* approximately 48 cattle destroyed near Muden (Umvoti).
* 50ha sugar cane and 30ha irrigation in Umvoti.
Resources committed
The farmers with the assistance from Working for Fire are fighting and
brought the fire under control in most areas. As with South Region, all Animal
Health Technicians (AHT) and Agricultural Technicians are on the ground. AHTs
are assisting with destroying seriously injured animals and negotiations are
underway to move cattle to abattoirs. Technicians are also assessing damage in
Communal areas. A meeting was held at Entumeni on 28 July at the Tribal Court
in which our technicians were in attendance.
Requests and assistance needed
The homeless are in very urgent need of food and shelter. However the
Department of Welfare and NGOs have moved very quickly to address these needs.
The farming community is in desperate need of fodder for their livestock after
the destruction of their winter reserves by the fire. Transport is also
required for transport of seriously injured livestock to Abattoirs from
commercial and emerging farmers. The department will stay in touch with the
local farmers' union and the local district disaster management unit who are
co-ordinating the activities at local level.
The department will collect the data of losses and damages from the
community, analyse it further and make recommendation in terms of assistance
recommended.
Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs,
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
29 July 2007
