How many people died in Laingsburg?
104 people
104 people died in the Laingsburg flood, and only 32 bodies were ever recovered. Out of the 184 houses in town, only 21 remained untouched by the water, the others were either completely destroyed, or so badly damaged that it had to be rebuilt.
How did the Laingsburg flood happen?
On 25 January 1981, Laingsburg in the Western Cape was devastated by a severe flood. The hard rains immersed the whole town in water, only the roofs of the houses were left visible. 425mm of rain fell on 24 and 25 January 1981 causing the Buffalo River that flows North-south through the town to burst its banks.
When was the last major flood in Australia?
Floods in Australia
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| February 2017 | Western Australian Floods |
| Late March 2017 | Eastern Australian Floods caused by Cyclone Debbie |
| February 2020 | Widespread flooding in Sydney basin and the Blue Mountains, flooding in central west to the north of NSW and flooding caused by Tropical Cyclone Damien in Karratha |
What caused the Laingsburg flood 1981?
After three days of almost continuous rain in late January 1981 across the catchment area of the Buffels River, the usually desiccated soil of the Moordenaars Karoo had reached saturation point resulting in a wall of water that swept down the river towards Laingsburg.
How big is Laingsburg?
279.4 mi²
Laingsburg/Area
What happened in Laingsburg?
The flood destroyed two-thirds of Laingsburg’s infrastructure destroying 184 houses and 23 commercial buildings including the town’s old-age home. The flood claimed 104 lives, with 72 bodies never recovered.
Which river runs through Laingsburg?
Buffels River
Groot River (Southern Cape)
| Groot River | |
|---|---|
| Train approaching Laingsburg crossing the bridge over the Buffels River, the upper section of the Groot River | |
| Location of the Groot River mouth | |
| Etymology | From Grootrivier, meaning “big river” in the Afrikaans language |
| Location |
What is the most common flood in Australia?
Riverine floods
Riverine floods are perhaps the most common form of flooding in Australia. The two main contributors to riverine flooding are heavy rainfall and the lands capacity to absorb water. When the land becomes saturated, the excess water flows into river systems and can caused them to exceed their capacity.