Cape Town floods displace thousands of informal settlement residents, more rain expected
The province's disaster management team issued a warning, saying disruptive rain would persist until the end of the weekend.
Disaster risk management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said rescue teams were assessing the extent of damage by the heavy rains.
'Assessments are under way after last night's heavy downpours. Reports have been received from a number of areas including Mfuleni, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.'
Powell said the Vygieskraal canal burst its banks, causing further flooding on a number of roads in the Athlone/Belgravia area.
The rains also caused structural damages to houses across the province including: : Vygieskraal informal settlement: about 500 structures, affecting 2,000 residents;
Approximately 200 structures in Haji Ebrahim Crescent affecting 1,000 people; and
About 150 RDP homes, also in Vygieskraal, where an estimated 750 people were affected.
The disaster risk management centre has requested help with sandbags and milling, blankets and provision of hot meals and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter support.
Provincial traffic service spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said heavy rains caused the closure of the Borchard's Quarry link from the N2.
'While there was a lot of localised flooding of roadways late yesterday afternoon and early evening, these have since been cleared either through natural drainage or interventions from the relevant city departments.'
Jacobs warned more rain was expected, appealing to motorists to be cautious.
'We experience an increase in motor vehicle accidents during periods of inclement weather. Drive with your headlights on, reduce speed and increase your following distance.'
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The Herald
16 hours ago
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Cape Town floods displace thousands of informal settlement residents, more rain expected
Heavy downpours in Cape Town resulted in thousands of residents being displaced after their homes were washed away by floods on Friday night . The province's disaster management team issued a warning, saying disruptive rain would persist until the end of the weekend. Disaster risk management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said rescue teams were assessing the extent of damage by the heavy rains. 'Assessments are under way after last night's heavy downpours. Reports have been received from a number of areas including Mfuleni, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.' Powell said the Vygieskraal canal burst its banks, causing further flooding on a number of roads in the Athlone/Belgravia area. The rains also caused structural damages to houses across the province including: : Vygieskraal informal settlement: about 500 structures, affecting 2,000 residents; Approximately 200 structures in Haji Ebrahim Crescent affecting 1,000 people; and About 150 RDP homes, also in Vygieskraal, where an estimated 750 people were affected. The disaster risk management centre has requested help with sandbags and milling, blankets and provision of hot meals and plastic sheeting for temporary shelter support. Provincial traffic service spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said heavy rains caused the closure of the Borchard's Quarry link from the N2. 'While there was a lot of localised flooding of roadways late yesterday afternoon and early evening, these have since been cleared either through natural drainage or interventions from the relevant city departments.' Jacobs warned more rain was expected, appealing to motorists to be cautious. 'We experience an increase in motor vehicle accidents during periods of inclement weather. Drive with your headlights on, reduce speed and increase your following distance.' TimesLIVE
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4 days ago
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As WC braces for another storm, relief efforts continue following recent heavy rains
CAPE TOWN - As the Western Cape braces for another storm, ongoing relief efforts are underway related to flooding caused by recent heavy rains. After two days of torrential rain last week, informal settlements across the Western Cape were severely impacted by flooding. More than 500 people in Middelpos were also left stranded by flooding after heavy rains hit Saldanha Bay. Gift of the Givers said that about 5,000 hot meals and 2,500 blankets, bottled water, and baby care packs were distributed to affected areas throughout the province. Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape spokesperson on local government, Dave Bryant, said the party was grateful for the proactive work being carried out by the province's disaster risk management team. "Communities in Saldahna Bay and surrounding areas can count on support both from the local municipality as well as the Western Cape government, during this period of inclement weather." The City of Cape Town is now preparing for another cold front, which could cause more flooding when it makes landfall on Thursday. City disaster risk management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said: "The Disaster Risk Management Centre received the following additional warnings from the South African weather service, a yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall expected over the Western Cape from Thursday into Sunday." Powell said yellow level two warnings for damaging winds and waves were expected between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas on Friday, and between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay on Saturday until Monday morning.
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