A cold front has struck Cape Town, bringing with it heavy deluges and gale-force winds. Many have been excited about its arrival, as locals are always grateful for rain after the devastating drought and previously imminent threat of Day Zero, however the flooding that comes with heavy downpours also has negative impacts, specifically on vulnerable communities in the Cape and road users.
Roadways are already flooded across the city in areas such as Southfield, Grassy Park, Killarney, Kraaifontein, Atlantis, Mamre, Hout Bay, Kuils River, Mitchells Plain, Macassar, Parow and Durbanville.
“Flooding [has occurred] in informal settlements in Masiphumelele in Fish Hoek, Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay and Makhaza in Khayelitsha, where approximately 3 000 dwellings have been affected,” City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) spokesperson Charlotte Powell said. “In Imizamo Yethu, seven dwellings were destroyed by an uprooted tree.”
No residents were injured by the tree.
“Storm-related electricity disruptions are being experienced in Plattekloof and Rylands,” Powell said. “City Departments are assisting the affected communities, including making alternative accommodation available and SASSA has been informed around the need for humanitarian relief.”
Residents are asked to direct non-emergency service requests to the City’s Call Centre on 0860 103 089, and to direct emergency calls to the Public Emergency Communication Centre by dialing 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
Picture: Unsplash