GARDEN ROUTE – Major towns across the Garden Route have been impacted by ongoing severe weather conditions following an Orange Level 8 Warning issued by the South African Weather Service, with storms intensifying across the region since Wednesday.

The Garden Route District Municipality’s Head of Disaster Management, Gerhard Otto, said in a social media update that several towns, including Oudtshoorn, George, Bitou and Knysna, have been placed on high alert as the system continues to affect large parts of the district.

Mossel Bay and surrounding areas are also under a lower Level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall.

Otto said the district has been monitoring the weather system since Sunday and activated early preparedness measures ahead of the storm’s arrival.

“We did provide municipalities with a heads-up to start preparing and to place teams on high alert,” he said.

He further confirmed that two fatalities have been reported so far after falling trees during the severe weather.

Farmers have been urged to take precautionary measures, with Otto advising them to secure livestock, stock emergency supplies, and prepare for possible isolation as some rural areas could once again become inaccessible.

“We’ve asked them to prepare to be able to sustain themselves and their workers for a period of up to 14 days,” he said, referencing previous incidents where communities were cut off during heavy rainfall.

In Bitou, authorities confirmed improved conditions at the N2 Kwanokuthula flood mitigation site after SANRAL successfully located and cleared a blocked culvert beneath the highway.

The intervention has restored water flow and significantly reduced flooding risk in the area, despite continued heavy rainfall.

Bitou Municipality said the situation remains under observation.

The R340 in Wittedrift has been closed due to flooding, with authorities confirming the road is unsafe for motorists.

Officials have also warned against using gravel routes between Green Valley and the N2 Kwanokuthula side due to deteriorating conditions.

Motorists have been strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel as flooding, poor visibility and rapidly changing weather conditions continue to pose serious risks.

The Garden Route National Park has also implemented emergency safety measures following the severe weather warning.

As previously reported, the SANParks spokesperson JP Louw confirmed that all hikers on the Otter Trail in the Tsitsikamma section were safely evacuated, while all hiking trails and water-based activities have been suspended due to unstable conditions and the risk of falling trees.

At Nature’s Valley, river levels continue to rise, with officials confirming saturated ground conditions and multiple safety hazards.

The Waterfall Trail and all hiking routes within the Storms River Mouth Rest Camp have been temporarily closed.

Residents of Nature’s Valley have been urged to conserve water immediately after the municipal pumps were shut down due to dangerous river currents preventing safe operation.

Authorities warned of rising water levels in low-lying areas, with floodwaters reported near St. Patrick’s Avenue and Phyl Martin Park. In a critical safety update, officials confirmed that the municipal septic tank had been displaced due to flood pressure, making parts of the area unstable.

The municipal office has been closed, and staff evacuated, while patrol teams continue monitoring conditions.

Cellular networks in the area remain down, further complicating communication and emergency response efforts.

Authorities also reported rockfalls along the R102 Groot River Pass (western side), while the eastern route remains open.

The Groot River Bridge is under close observation due to rapidly rising water levels.