Latest news with #CharlottePowell
News24
06-07-2025
- Climate
- News24
Cape Town storm: Multiple road closures, almost 4 000 displaced as floods damage more homes
Supplied/Gift of the Givers Almost 4 000 people have been left homeless after heavy flooding in Cape Town, with informal settlements among the hardest hit. Torrential rain battered large parts of the city, damaging homes, cutting off access roads, and forcing families to seek shelter elsewhere. According to the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC), more than 3 700 residents have been affected in Vygieskraal and surrounding areas, with flooding hitting areas including Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Du Noon and Athlone. On Sunday, the City of Cape Town's Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said that 67 homes at the Intertersite and Sanitizer informal settlements in Langa had been affected, impacting 240 people. In Masincedane, 20 dwellings have been hard hit by the rain, affecting 80 people and in Kampies, Strandfontein, officials counted 50 impacted dwellings, displacing 150 people. READ | More than 2 000 displaced, canal bank bursts, power outages as parts of Cape Town flooded 'The City's Informal Settlements Management branch has been activated to provide assistance to affected residents – we have also alerted the National Human Settlements Department to conduct assessments,' City DMC spokesperson Charlotte Powell said. She added that the City's NGO partners would provide humanitarian relief, while the roads and infrastructure management department has been requested to provide sand and milling. 'DRM will continue to conduct assessments in informal settlements situated in low-lying areas, while the Catchment, Stormwater and River Management branch is monitoring waterways (rivers and canals).' 'While the worst of the rainfall is behind us, the cold and damp conditions will persist. The City has availed seven drop-off sites for donations of non-perishable foodstuffs.' Humanitarian relief organisation Gift of the Givers said they have assisted more than 35 000 people since the cold front hit parts of the province. Supplied/Gift of the Givers 'The Gift of the Givers team distributed in excess of 10 000 meals yesterday (Saturday), blankets, beanies, and other personal hygienic personal packs. Our teams distributed in Nyanga, Langa, Khayelitsha, Nomzamo, [and] Lwandle,' said Gift of the Givers spokesperson Ali Sablay. Western Cape Department of Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers has urged road users to travel cautiously during rainy weather, as visibility is impaired and roads can become slippery. 'Please stay clear of flooded roads and use alternative routes,' he cautioned. The following road closures are active: Cape Winelands District DR1341 (Die Plaat), Bonnievale, Km 0.99-1.10: Road temporarily closed. DR1397 (Merwe Street): Drift over Breede River at km 7.9: Road closed. DR1398 (Slanghoek Road): Low water structure over Breede River: Road closed. West Coast District OP7623 (Bergrivier Municipality), Uitvlug: Road closed. MR539 Low water bridge, N7 to Algeria: Road closed. DRI 176 Matjiesrivier: Road closed to traffic. MR174 between Malmesbury and Klipheuwel: Road closed. MR215 between Darling and R27 (Yzerfontein): Road closed.
The Herald
05-07-2025
- Climate
- The Herald
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
News24
03-07-2025
- Climate
- News24
City officials on high alert as more cold, wet weather grips Cape Town
Weather warnings have been issued for the Western Cape as yet another cold front approaches. Cape Town authorities remain on high alert in anticipation of the severe weather. Another cold front is expected over the weekend. City of Cape Town officials are on high alert as yet another cold front makes landfall in Cape Town. With multiple weather warnings in place, the province is bracing for cold and wet weather, Disaster Risk Management spokesperson Charlotte Powell said. The severe weather is expected to persist across the Western Cape from Thursday into Sunday. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has released a yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape. In the SAWS' colour-coded weather warning system, yellow indicates a moderate risk of impact that requires caution and awareness, while orange indicates that higher-risk impact is expected, requiring increased attention and preparation. SAWS uses the numbers to indicate the likelihood of weather-based impacts occurring. Levels 2 and 6 are high, and Level 4 is low. READ | Thursday's weather: Heavy rain, hail and damaging winds as cold front hits SA A yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds, resulting in difficulty in navigation, is expected between Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas on Friday, while a yellow level 2 warning for damaging waves resulting in difficulty in navigation at sea is in place between Cape Agulhas and Plettenberg Bay on Saturday. News24 previously reported that a cold front was expected to make landfall, bringing about rain and snow in some areas in the country from Wednesday. Forecaster Lehlohonolo Thobela said there were warnings that the rain could become disruptive on Thursday, affecting various areas, from the Cape Winelands to Cape Town and the West Coast. This follows persistent rain over the last week. On Thursday, the cold front is expected to move eastwards, bringing a scattered to isolated chance of rain and showers over the Eastern Cape. A yellow level 1 warning for severe thunderstorms has been issued for the Eastern Cape. The SAWS warned that there could be large amounts of small hail, damaging winds and excessive lightning. A cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape over the weekend, which could result in rain and lead to flooding in the southwestern parts of the province.
Eyewitness News
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
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.
Eyewitness News
08-06-2025
- Climate
- Eyewitness News
No major impact from inclement weather in CT, Disaster Risk management to stay on high alert
CAPE TOWN - The South African weather service has revised its yellow level 4 warning for disruptive rainfall in Cape Town to a yellow level 2. A powerful cut-off low system has hit parts of the country resulting in a cold front that may lead to snowfall in various provinces. The City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management centre has assured citizens that it remains on high alert. While temperatures have dropped significantly, the City has received no reports of major weather-related incidents but will be monitoring for further impact. "Thus far, no significant impacts have been reported to the disaster operations centre, although this situation might change as the day progresses," said spokesperson for the centre, Charlotte Powell. "The public is reminded to direct any requests for city services via the online platforms or the customer call centre on 0860 103 089."
