First Update on the February 2024 Flooding
Report and photos from Philip Kendall
Administrator Philip Kendall visited the areas affected by the flooding of Friday 2nd February 2024 again during the weekend, and has sent us this update.
More than ten houses were affected by the flooding, of which about 50% are uninhabitable, at least in the short to medium term. This fortunately is not as bad as in our initial report.
Drying out continues at a flooded island home.
Thankfully the weather has been kind to Tristan over weekend and since. The dry weather and sun is helping the affected families dry their possessions and air their houses.
Digger moving debris in Hottentot Gulch
Above: Debris above the road... and Below: Clearing the road in the region of Knockfolly Gulch
On Saturday the PWD Team were able to clear the road to the patches, so it is at least passable. In the longer term, part of the road may need to be moved further inland to avoid it slipping into the sea.
Shoring up the banks of the Big Watron and clearing it of rubble.
On the eastern side of the Settlement, work is ongoing to shore up the banks of the Big Watron and clear it of rubble.
 |
 |
| Debris deposited between Dockel Gulch and the Big Watron. | |
This week Philip is trying to work out the financial cost, both to individuals and the island, and looking at preventative measures to stop this from happening again .
Sand at Runaway Beach washed away by the outflow of Wash Gulch. Photo: Nick Schönfield.
New Flash Floods and Landslides on Tristan
Initial report from Philip Kendall and Kelly Green, with additional photos from Nick Schönfeld
On the 2nd February 2024, it had been raining heavily overnight, but nothing suggested what was to come. The Tristan da Cunha community woke up before daylight to the sounds of thunder. However, it was not thunder, but flash floods pouring down from the mountain.
At 07:00am, Administrator Philip Kendall's phone started to ring, with stories coming in of water, mud and rocks coming down the Big Watron in the East of the settlement and in Hottentot Gulch to the West. He went straight up to the south east corner of the settl ement to find houses flooded with muddy water. The Watron was full of rubble, and the water had breached its banks.
Drone view of the debris field at the Big Watron. Photo: Nick Schönfeld.
Many island homes and the creche have been affected by the flooding, some much worse than others, meaning people have had to move out. Approximately ten houses are not currently habitable.
Kelly Green says that in the 12 years she has been on the island this is the worst flooding she has seen. Even her own kitchen was flooded, although others were much more severely affected.
 |
 |
| Surface water gushing over pasture by the Big Watron | Floodwater flowing out of a building in the settlement |
| Stills from videos by Kelly Green | |
Satisfied that there were no injuries, Philip went into his office and called around to see what was needed. He also informed the Governor in St Helena and FCDO headquarters in the UK.
As the day progressed it became clear that the damage to the west side of the settlement was just as bad. The road to the Patches was, and remains blocked. Nick Schönfeld flew his drone over the affected areas and the damage was clear. The road has been washed away near where the 2019 landslide occurred.
Nick Schönfeld's drone photo shows the blocked road to the Patches. The line of an earlier road that was cut by previous washouts can be discerned above the current road.
It was a very busy day for the community, as everyone is now trying to work together to deal with the aftermath. Philip is in awe of the families and friends of those affected who have flocked to help those in distress. The resilience of islanders in the face of adversity impresses him continuously.
Flood damaged carpets, mats and fabrics hung out to dry outside one of the affected island homes. Photo: Philip Kendall
Thankfully the rain has stopped, and it is hoped the weekend will be drier. The PWD workforce will be working to clear the Watron and the Gulch, and they will also be trying to clear the way out to the Potato Patches to check for damage out there. By Monday we should have a clearer idea of the amount of work ahead.
PWD working with diggers to divert the water cascading down the mountain from behind the 1961 volcano away from the Big Watron and island homes. Photo: Kelly Green
Some Background
Tristan has a long history of rock falls, wash outs, and landslides. Friday’s situation is exactly the type of eventuality that scientists Anna Hicks and Neil Golding were looking at during their survey work on the island in 2022. Among other things, they found a large fissure on the cliff tops that presented a future hazard. No doubt they will be anxious to get back to Tristan to re-examine the landscape has changed since they did their baseline survey.
Stamp issue: 60th Anniversary of Tristan's 1961 Volcano, Part 3 |
 |
| Stamps commemorating the 60th anniversary of the resettlement of Tristan's population after the evacuation caused by the 1961 volcanic eruption. 6-Dec-2023 |
|
Tristan da Cunha Annual Gathering 2023 |
 |
| The gathering took place in Southampton on the 15th April 2023. 7-Jun-2023 |
|
Stamp issue: 60th Anniversary of Tristan's 1961 Volcano, Part 2 |
 |
| Stamps commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Royal Society Expedition 1961/62 to study Tristan's 1961 volcanic eruption. 2-Mar-2022 |
|
'Nothing Can Stop Us' Book Launch |
 |
| New hardback book tells the extraordinary story of Tristan da Cunha and its 1961 volcanic eruption. 16-Dec-2021 |
|
Page Updated: New Book: 'Nothing Can Stop Us' - Tristan's Extraordinary Story |
 |
| New hardback book tells the extraordinary story of Tristan da Cunha and its 1961 volcanic eruption. 16-Dec-2021 |
|
Stamp issue: 60th Anniversary of Tristan's 1961 Volcano, Part 1 |
 |
| Stamps commemorating the 60th anniversary of Tristan da Cunha's 1961 volcanic eruption and the evacuation of the population to England. 27-Oct-2021 |
|
Remembering the 1961 Volcano |
 |
| Audio recordings of island elders who remember the volcanic eruption in 1961 and their temporary evacuation to England. 18-May-2021 |
|
- Heavy Rainstorm, 30th April 2021 (30-Apr-2021) >>
- Partial Solar Eclipse, December 2020 (19-Dec-2020) >>
- Earthquake in Tristan da Cunha Region (2-Sep-2020) >>
- Progress Report on Storm Damage at St Mary's School, March 2020 (19-Mar-2020) >>
- Drone Footage of the Damage Caused by the July 2019 Storm (10-Mar-2020) >>
- Successful re-roofing after November 2019 Storm (6-Nov-2019) >>