A day in history: Congella power station floods
Today marks 47 years after a devastating act of nature befell local residents and infrastructure in Congella and surrounding areas. One resident recalls the distaster etched in her mind forever, and is glad to be alive to tell the tale.
ON December 29, 1977, the Umbilo river burst its banks and flooded the Rossburgh basin and Bayhead area. The flood waters reached Congella power station in the early hours of December 30.
According to Edith Seagreen, who resided in Rossburgh at the time, “We lived in Rossburgh and what looked like mist, was in fact flood water. Only a portion of the tennis court fencing was visible.
She narrated, “The Rossburgh bus terminal and railway station was under water. My husband walked to work in shorts and t-shirt, through chest high water. (He found a wooden lab stool from Brettonwood school on the railing of the bridge).
“The call went out and most of the Eskom staff responded, with staff from Umgeni and the Durban Fire department to help clean up. Twelve-hour shifts were effected to do this clean-up.”
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“However, on December 31, 1977, after yet more torrential rain, the Umbilo river breached again and Congella was flooded for a second time, 200mm higher than the first time.”
Once again the station had to be cleaned up. The clean-up was reportedly successful, and on January 7, 1978, two turbines and boilers were back on load.
A point of interest, in 1937 Congella Power Station did experience a flood but nothing like the 1977 floods.
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