Numerous roads flooded following Cape Storm

Numerous roadways have been flooded and mudslides has been reported across the Cape Town metro, following heavy rainfall that fell from Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

PICTURE: Twitter - @NoSurrenderRSA - Lourensrivier in Somerset West

The South African Weather Service has advised of an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall over the Cape Metropole on Wednesday and Thursday (14 and 15 June 2023) Disruptive coastal winds and damaging waves are also forecast along the coast between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay, until Thursday. Furthermore, a Level 1 warning for damaging winds has been forecast

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre said the impact of Tuesday night’s and Wednesday morning’s rain, caused the Jakkalsvlei Canal, as well as the Lourensriver and the Kayserriver, to burst its banks. This has led the Johnson and Johnson factory in Tokai , flooded, and the Lourens river overflow impacted on the Somerset West Eskom sub-station.

The storm has also left the Helderberg area without power. 

Those residing in Kay’s Caravan Park in Strand were evacuated, with the Help-n-Hand NGO is accommodating the residents.

Various informal settlements in Philippi, Strand, Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Masiphumelele and Khayelitsha have been flooded.  DRMC officials are still busy with assessments.

Meanwhile, learners and residents of St Paul’s Primary School in Faure, ha to be evacuated. The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s, Charlotte Powell, said accommodation was arranged for them at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. 

‘’The Fire & Rescue Services assisted Disaster Management in evacuating the learners,’’ said Powell.

In other updates:

·        Infrastructure on the Old Faure Wine Farm in Macassar sustained water damage.

·        Informal settlements in Delft have been flooded.  The City has provided the residents with milling and sand

·        The Roads and Infrastructure Management Services as well as stormwater teams are unblocking drains

·        The Recreation and Parks department is removing uprooted trees on public land/roadways across the city

·        Change for the Better Foundation, an animal shelter in Brackenfell (Botfontein and Bottelary Roads) has sustained water damage.

‘’SASSA and other NGOs have been requested to provide humanitarian relief to the affected informal settlements. Various roadways are affected by temporary storm-water overflows, uprooted trees and mud on the road surface,’’ said Charlotte Powell, The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre.

 

Done By: Mitchum George