The Vaal Dam which recently burst it’s banks due to massive amounts of rain on the South African Highveld drew thousands of spectators to see the massive release of water from the Dam wall, an event which was last seen 14 years ago. Many enterprising South African’s seized the opportunity to set up shop on the roadsides to cater to the hungry tummy’s and thirsty throats of the tourists flocking to the site and overall a very festive mood prevailed. Despite the traffic chaos everyone seemed to get along just fine and slowly move their way through and across the bridge over the river.

At one point as many as 14 sluice gates were open and the water being released from the Vaal dam wall was like a raging monster emitting a massive cloud of water vapour into the sky above making clear photographs of the dam while quite tricky. The photo below captured by South African landscape photographer and freelance photojournalist Mitchell Krog is one such image where the amount of flood gates opened was 14. At the height of release of water from the Dam an amount of 2 040m³ of water per second was being released from the dam wall.

Like a raging beast water gushes out from 14 sluice gates on the Vaal dam wall due to heavy rains in the province which caused the Vaal Dam to burst it's banks. At the point of 14 sluices being open an amount of 2 040m³ of water per second was being released from the dam wall. - Photo: Copyright Mitchell Krog / Living Canvas Photography

Due to the large amount of water being released from the Dam wall, many road ways further downstream in the Vereeneging area were affected by flooding causing traffic chaos in the city and surrounds. The traffic officials sure had their hands full but seemed to control the chaos quite well. Traffic at the dam wall was really chaotic with cars parked everywhere and others trying to squeeze their way through the parked cars and people on foot.

Recent flooding at the Vaal dam drew crowds from afar who flocked to see the spectacle of a major river in flood. At one point authorities in the region had 14 sluice gates opened due to the massive amount of water flowing into the Vaal dam from the heavy rainfalls around the Gauteng region. Photo: Copyright Mitchell Krog / Living Canvas Photography

As of this week levels in the Vaal Dam have stabilised and they are down to only 5 flood gates being open with authorities saying they may close more today. The situation is still being closely monitored as rains continue to fall around the province onto already water-logged ground which can still result in more flooding but for the most part the big spectacle is probably over for now.

"Like a raging monster" - water gushing from the Vaal Dam wall after 14 sluice gates were opened due to heavy rainfalls in the region. Photo: Copyright Mitchell Krog / Living Canvas Photography