Water Department warns of potential structural breach at Senteeko dam following heavy rains

The Department of Water and Sanitation has warned that the potential collapse of the Senteeko Dam remains an imminent threat, though the primary danger is currently limited to farming communities located near the structure.

On Monday, the department and the City of Mbombela issued a joint urgent evacuation notice for all residents living downstream of the dam. This follows an urgent public alert released last week regarding significant structural concerns.

STRUCTURAL RISKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Investigations revealed that the dam’s spillway slab has sustained severe damage due to recent heavy rainfall in the region. This damage has created a high risk of a structural breach, which could cause catastrophic flooding in the immediate downstream areas.

The department cautioned that a total failure of the dam could occur at any moment without further warning.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND MAPPING
Officials have been working to identify the specific areas at risk to ensure public safety. Wally Ramokopa, a representative for the Department of Water and Sanitation, noted that while the risk is high, the geographical impact is somewhat contained.

"What we have done is map out the flood path should the dam [fail] as to which communities will be affected," Ramokopa said. "Fortunately, when mapping out, we didn't observe any densely populated communities downstream."

ONGOING SAFETY MEASURES
The department is collaborating with local municipality leaders and disaster management teams to maintain the evacuation orders. Residents are expected to remain clear of the flood path until engineers can formally declare the dam safe.

"We are working closely with the municipality and disaster management to make sure the people remain evacuated... so we don't end up losing lives," Ramokopa added.