- One body was recovered and 40 others hospitalised after a dam wall collapsed in Jagersfontein.
- The dam belongs to a mining company.
- Electricity supply was lost and local cellphone towers were damaged.
The flow of water, after the tailings dam of an abandoned mine in Jagersfontein collapsed, has stopped and the immediate threat is being stabilised, said Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Sunday afternoon.
"The untold damage in and around the community of Charlesville in Jagersfontein are extensive and has negatively impacted the community," she said in a statement. "Some people are displaced, others lost property, while others are reported injured and missing."
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) was coordinating with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and other stakeholders to ensure the assistance needed was provided, where required, Dlamini-Zuma said.
"The NDMC has deployed staff members to the affected area to assess the damage and impact, and to provide direct operational support."
She urged the deployed teams to "do everything that is required to lessen the negative impact this incident is having on communities".
"Multi-disciplinary teams consisting of the South African Police Service, emergency medical services, health, disaster management, social development, search and rescue personnel and engineers from the mine responded immediately and are on the scene, where search, rescue, immediate relief and stabilisation operations are underway.
"The injured persons have been provided with on-scene emergency medical care and are being transported to local hospitals. Assessments are underway to identify and account for all residents of the affected area."
The premier's office earlier stated that three bodies had been recovered. It has since corrected this, with only one casualty confirmed to have died.
Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela, who is expected in the mining town later on Sunday, said 35 people had been taken to the local Diamant Hospital. Among the injured was a pregnant woman, and four people who sustained fractured limbs.
Five others were transported to the Albert Nzula Hospital in Trompsburg.
Homes and vehicles were swept away when the dam collapsed.
"The premier, through her provincial government, this morning activated the Disaster Management Teams and the Joint Operation Centre to determine the extent of the disaster," said Ntombela's spokesperson, Palesa Chubisi.
"Officials from the [Emergency Medical Services] College have also been deployed to assist."
Eskom reported that it had lost bulk supply to Centlec, the electricity distributor responsible for Jagersfontein, while four Eskom customers on the Fauresmith-Spitskop feeder, three customers on the Pompie-Rietkuil feeder and the Jagersfontein Mine were without power.
"Eskom's Rietkuil Substation was also engulfed by the mud, resulting in a total loss of bulk supply to Centlec. Due to the current situation in the Jagersfontein area and the inaccessibility of our substation, it is impossible to estimate when supply will be restored or to determine the extent of the damage," Eskom said in a statement.
"Since Eskom's telecommunication system is also affected by the flood, the impact on surrounding networks is still unclear."
It urged residents to treat all electrical lines, sockets and appliances as live and dangerous.
Social development district offices were evacuating people in the affected areas to nearby farms, while humanitarian organisations were assessing how many people were affected.
Gift of the Givers' Imtiaz Sooliman said the Charlesville area appeared to be most affected by the sludge.
"Houses, personal belongings and many sheep have been washed away, and community members are missing. The cellphone towers have been damaged, affecting communication, there is no electricity and not a drop of drinkable water. Some of the roads have been cut off," Sooliman said.
A local church opened its doors to those affected, to offer shelter and accommodation.
"Immediate requirements include bottled water, bulk food for cooking, blankets, mattresses, clothing, hygiene items, sanitary pads and diapers. Fodder for sheep will also be required."
The humanitarian organisation's teams were packing supplies in Bethlehem, Graaff-Reinet, Gqeberha and Cape Town. The first delivery was expected in Jagersfontein later on Sunday.
Arrangements will also be made to provide sheep with fodder.