This follows after the town flooded in the early hours of Sunday morning, 11 September 2022.

According to reports from the community, the dam of a local mine burst at around 06:00 and flooded the area causing damage to infrastructure, property and homes.

Spokesperson for the minister, Lungi Mtshali, says the NDMC has since been coordinating with the Provincial Disaster Management Center (PDMC) to ensure that they provide assistance and to also assess the extent of the damage in Jagersfontein.

Mtshali adds that Dlamini-Zuma urged deployed teams to do everything required to lessen the negative impact that the incident is having on affected communities.

He says Dlamini-Zuma also urged residents to remain calm and those not affected in Jaggersfontein who are able to lend a hand to those affected to do so.

Meanwhile, Free State Cogta has indicated that MEC Mxolisi Dukwana is currently working hand-in-hand with Premier Sisi Ntombela to do an in loco inspection on affected areas to brief Dlamini-Zuma about the situation, for purpose jointly coordinating disaster management.

Ntombela's spokesperson, Palesa Chubisi, indicates that one person has died while 35 people, including a pregnant woman, have since been hospitalised after sustaining injuries during the incident. She says four patients suffered fractures and others sustained bruises and hypothermia. Five more patients were transported to Albert Nzula Hospital at Trompsburg.

ALSO READ: #JagersfonteinFlood: One dies in tragedy

Chubisi also adds that search and rescue efforts are continuing for more missing persons and officials from the Emergency Medical Services College have also been deployed to assist.

ALSO READ: Ntombela sends disaster management teams to Jagersfontein

OFM News previously reported that Ntombela will be visiting the disaster-stricken mining town of Jagersfontein in the Kopanong Local Municipality on Sunday afternoon.

ALSO READ: Free State Education on high alert following #JagersfonteinFlood

Chubisi also says that the Free State department of education is currently liaising with the district officials and all principals to provide an assessment report of the state of our education facilities including access from town and townships to the schools.

"The Social Development District offices are evacuating people in the affected areas to nearby farms.

Humanitarian Organisations such as Meals on Wheels, South African Red Cross and many more are on the ground conducting their assessments to see how many people are affected and what other basic needs besides food are needed," adds Chubisi.

Municipal spokesperson, Solomzi Phama, indicates that over 100 houses have been affected.

The electricity supply was also disrupted.

According to spokesperson, Stefanie Jansen van Rensburg explains Eskom’s Rietkuil Substation was also engulfed by the mud resulting in a total loss of bulk supply to Centlec.

“Due to the current situation in the Jagersfontein area and inaccessibility of our substation, it is impossible to estimate when supply will be restored or to determine the extent of the damage.  

“Since Eskom’s telecommunication system is also affected by the flood, the impact on surrounding networks is still unclear.  Any meaningful updates will be promptly communicated,” says Van Rensburg.

OFM News