UPDATE: Hazelmere Dam levels drop to 63% - residents to remain on high alert
Water levels at Hazelmere Dam - north of Durban - have dropped significantly since efforts to reduce them began on Sunday night.
Umgeni Water says by late afternoon yesterday, dam levels stood at 63%. Their goal is 55%.
There was a high risk of flooding from the dam, which had been filled to capacity due to the recent heavy rainfall.
READ: Water levels reduced at Hazelmere Dam, residents told to keep away
Maintenance teams got to work, draining water from Hazelmere into the Umdloti River.
Umgeni Water's Shami Harichunder says communities need to remain on alert.
He says they'll carry out a their final assessment tomorrow. "It is not safe to close to or into the Umdloti River because of the high water levels in that river caused by released from Hazelmere Dam," says Harichunder.
He adds, "It is extremely important for them to stay away from the river until this exercise has been completed. They also need to stay away from the two pedestrian bridges."
