The worst floods in more than 20 years caused damage of at least R85-million over a wide swathe of the Cape west coast and left hundreds of people in need of blankets and food.

Municipal officials from Malmesbury to Vredendal are still counting the cost of the floods that swept the region after a week of storms dumped nearly 300mm of rain on the region.

Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool visited Mooreesberg, 90km north of Cape Town, yesterday to meet mayors and disaster management officials, and to assess emergency needs.

" The damage will come to R85-million ... and that's not the final figure," said Rasool.

He said it might still be necessary to declare the region a disaster area, which would enable the province to apply for relief funds from the national government.

The citrus and wheat crops, which are critical to the lifeblood of the province, had been severely affected by the floods, Rasool said.

West Coast municipal manager Wessel Rabbets said there had been severe disruption of the local economy, and damage to roads and sewage works.

The Uitkyk Pass, in the Cederberg, has been washed away, isolating a wine farm that describes itself as the highest-altitude wine producer in South Africa.