| (1) | If at any time in the opinion of the State President it appears that serious material damage or loss or distress has occurred or is likely to occur as a result of a sudden or disastrous event in a particular area, whether in the Republic or elsewhere, and that the relief of the distress of the persons who are or will be affected thereby is likely to be supported by the public generally or by any particular section of the public, he may by proclamation in the Gazette declare such event for the purposes of this Act to be a disaster. |
