Remembering the Laingsburg Floods (40 Years) – by Angelo Ricardo Hoorn

The Laingsburg Floods 40 Years Remembered

Last Updated on 29th January 2021 11:23 AM by AfriWX

Contributed by Dr Angelo Ricardo Hoorn of SWAICSA

WARNING: IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT MAY UPSET SENSITIVE VIEWERS, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

SPECIAL DAILY TOPIC:”BLACK SUNDAY”

LAINGSBURG FLOOD, 25 JANUARY 1981.

“THE DAY OF THE BUFFELS RIVER”.

INTRODUCTION:

I lived and worked in Beaufort West from 2012-2015. As a young and eager to learn Weather Forecaster, Disaster Risk Reduction Student and Coordinator for the CWP’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), I enjoyed working with Mr. Hein Rust, my Mentor and now retired Disaster Manager of the Central Karoo District Municipality in Beaufort West. Most of the skills I have today, I learned from him.

On Wednesday morning, 08 January 2014 at around 02:20 I recieved an urgent call from Mr. Rust telling me that we had to go to Laingsburg immediately, as the Buffels, Wilgenhout and Baviaansrivers in the Laingsburg area flooded after thunderstorms dumped heavy rains over the area.

The Laingsburg Floods 40 Years Remembered
The Laingsburg Floods 40 Years Remembered

It was a 1.5 hours drive from Beaufort West to Laingsburg. As we entered the small town of the Karoo in the dark we could hear the the thunderous sound of the rivers.

The N1 was closed to traffic, The Provincial Disaster Management Centre was alerted of the crisis and a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) had been set up. Rescue resources, including (spotter) helicopters were on stand-by, in case the situation worsened. Farms were cut off, crops submerged and to make matters worse, communication systems- landlines, cellphones and internet- were failing amids rising river levels.

We ordered the immediate evacuation of houses closest to the river, as a precautionary measure. One resident, who had survived the first flood 33 years ago, had to be medically treated after suffering a panic attack.

I have personally interviewed people who went through this ordeal.

Some of them were understandably reluctant to talk, for others it was therapheutic. Even up till this day I see the anxiety and panic on especially the older peoples faces as they were crying and praying ‘Asseblief, Here, asb tog nie weer nie’ (Lord, please not again)…

LAINGSBURG FLOOD

The Laingsburg flood in 1981 January 25 is recognized as one of the biggest natural disasters in the history of South Africa.

The rain started on the weekend of 24th and 25 January 1981, but more in the Moordenaars Karoo, the northern part of the town.

The Moordenaars Karoo

The Moordenaars Karoo (Image 2, 3) lies to the east of the Klein Roggeveld plateau up to the Gatsberge. It is an extremely dry area. The origin of this area’s name is not known, however some say it is because of the extreme weather conditions.

Laingsburg Floods South Africa
Laingsburg South Africa

This area is the domain of the Buffels River which is mostly dry, but can be quite ferocious after heavy rains. The river played a big part in the drama that unfolded with the devastating flood of 1981.

Laingsburg Floods South Africa
Laingsburg South Africa

The Black South Easter

IMAGE 4: The meteorological cause of the disaster was a “Black South Easter” (BSE) that was preceded by a Cold front. A basic characteristic of the BSE is that it is a ridge of the Atlantic High that extends to the east and then moves in over the land from the south.

The Black South Easter BSE that caused the Laingsburg Floods
The Black South Easter BSE that caused the Laingsburg Floods

IMAGES 5, 6: A ridge is an elongated area of relatively high pressure extending from the center of a high-pressure region. Moist air is then propelled around this High Pressure System towards the land. In this case a strong High Pressure System was present south west of Cape Town, and moist air was carried to the south coast from the far south.

The Black South Easter BSE that caused the Laingsburg Floods
The Black South Easter BSE that caused the Laingsburg Floods

On IMAGE 7: its evident that the ridge of the High Pressure System still had an influence. Moist, warmer air, due to the long distance they travelled over the warm sea (warm Mozambique current), were perpendular to the landmass and orographic convection took place. Orographic convection occurs when moist air is forced upwards over rising terrain, such as a mountain.

Weather phenomens that caused the Laingsburg Floods

IMAGE 8, 9: Laingburg lies on the Leewardside (dryside/rainshadow region) of the Langeberg, Swartberg and Witteberg Mountains, but in this case, moist air was force over these mountains by the High Pressure System!

Laingburg lies on the Leewardside (dryside/rainshadow region) of the Langeberg, Swartberg and Witteberg Mountains
Laingburg lies on the Leewardside (dryside/rainshadow region) of the Langeberg, Swartberg and Witteberg Mountains

The catchment area of Buffelsriver

IMAGE 10: The catchment area of Buffelsriver (old measurements)The (new) estimated rainfall measurements during the weekend of 24 and 25 January 1981 were 425mm, whereas the normal rainfall per annum is 175 mm.

The catchment area of Buffelsriver - Laingsburg Flood Disaster

The Buffels River already overflowed its banks around 08h00 the morning of Sunday 25th January 1981. At the same time two rivers named Baviaans and Wilgerhout integrate with the Buffels, meaning there was a much higher volume of water accumulated at one time. The latter integrate just in front of the railway bridge. The level of the water started to rise in town about 12h00 and at 14h00, the town (CBD) was almost fully covered. While the water rose by seconds there was no time for those still at home to take any belongings with them.

Most of the residents were used to water level rising from time to time up to their doorsteps, particular those located next to the Buffels River. It is estimated that the river current was 8000m3/s (8000 cubic meter per second) at its peak- 1m3 (i.e 1 cubic meter= 1 ton of water)!

Those trapped in their houses fled to their roof for safety, but eventually the roofs collapsed. The speed and volume of water was higher and stronger in the southern part of the town because of its location and obstruction in and around river i.e. railway and N1 national road bridges.

All houses were swept away in no time and so were the people.Consequently, about 140 people lost their lives. One Hundred and four (104) people were from Laingsburg and others from the surrounding towns such as Montague, Ladismith, and Zoar.

The force of the water was so immense that victims’ bodies were found as far away as Mossel Bay. It is said that about 12 people were washed downstream and eventually rescued at the Floriskraal dam about 21km’s outside town. Many bodies were unidentified or not even found. 40 years ago this all happened.

The children of the district used to play in the river after lunch on a Sunday afternoon, but that day, Black Sunday 25 January 1981, was different. It took the lives of nine children from one family, named Diko. That was the biggest loss of a single family. Many recovered bodies were buried in the flood cemetery of Laingsburg.Today the flood level can still be seen at buildings in town. It is also indicated in town by means of a signboard. Flood experts reckon that this was the biggest flood that Laingsburg had experienced in many years.

In the case of the Laingsburg Disaster, •climatological (weather), •flora (plant in the region), •hidrologic (relating to the characteristic features (such as flow or depth) of bodies of water, •topographic (eg. Hills, valleys, rivers) and •human error were all roleplayers in this tragedy. Members, if you were affected by this Disaster in any way, please share your story with us (if you are comfortable doing so).

MAY THOSE WHO PERISHED IN THIS DISASTER REST in PEACE.

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR LOVED ONES.

#swaicsa

The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981
The Laingsburg Flood Disaster of 25 January 1981

Join our AfriWX Telegram Weather Group

Don’t forget to join the free AfriWX group on Telegram Messenger, please download Telegram for Android or iPhone if you want to always be up to date with the latest weather maps.

Click to join our Telegram Group

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *