After five days of battling blazes in the mountains around Kareedouw, firefighting teams are focusing their efforts on keeping the flames away from cultivated land, farm buildings and homes while the worst of the inferno is still in accessible areas.
After nearly a week of battling runaway fires in Koukamma, officials believe they finally have the blazes under control for the most part, and mopping-up operations around Kareedouw and other affected areas have started.
Residents in some rural Eastern Cape communities endured a black Christmas without electricity after a freak thunderstorm on Saturday left behind a trail of destruction, including broken poles and blown-up transformers.
As Nelson Mandela Bay residents enjoyed a brief respite on Monday from the weekend’s strong winds and heavy rain, with more downpours expected at night-time, the morning sun revealed the extent of the damage and flooding.