In the early hours Wednesday morning, Cape Town residents were met with sounds of horror as gusts of wind made its way across the Metro. While the City is known as the ‘City of storms’, many have shared their shock at the intensity of the storm. But residents are warned, the worst is yet to come, with the forecast reporting intense weather activity between 11h00 and 17h00 on Wednesday.
The latest storm update includes a roof blown off in Lavender Hill, with two injuries reported – an adult female and minor female. The City’s Risk Management Centre’s Charlotte Powell confirmed that a four-year-old minor has been taken to Victoria Hospital.
Roofs have also blown off in the Strand Area, Kalkfontein, Delft, Mfuleni, and Mandalay.
In a statement, provincial local government spokesperson James-Brent Styan confirmed that up to 45mm of rainfall has been recorded in Grabouw over the past 24 hours.
Ocean swells of up to 13 metres are expected in certain parts, leaving coastal areas in the line of danger.
VOC presenter, Adela Fortune’s home was also impacted by the storm when parts her roof gave way as the gusts of wind ripped through Wynberg. No injuries have been reported.
In addition, the City’s Risk Management Centre has been alerted to Informal Settlements roof damage and shacks blown away in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay and Macassar Village. Emergency sheltering has been activated
The Disaster Risk Management Centre has confirmed that at this stage 15 people are displaced in Imizamo Yethu due to their dwellings roofs blowing away. Powell confirmed that five people are staying at a school in Maitland after their dwelling in the Royal Road informal settlement was compromised.
Photographs of scenes showing the impact of the storm have streamed in from across the Cape, with residents reporting electricity cuts in a number of roads within Southern Suburbs.
Powell confirmed that electricity cables were down in Athlone, Weltevreden Valley, Pelican Park Area, Schaapkraal, Goodwood, Boston, and Parow Valley.
Since last night, the City’s Street People Unit has assisted with 143 placements of street people at various shelters; Area 1 Western – 28; Area 2 Eastern – 35; Area 3 Central – 74 and Area 4 South – 6.
Powell further added that trees have been uprooted in Durbanville, Delft, Platterkloof and Plumstead – a tree has landed on a block of flats, no injuries have been reported. With road closures in Main Road and Chestnut Road in Hout Bay due to uprooted trees.
Chapmans Peak Drive has been closed to traffic and the Huguenot Tunnel has been closed to trucks, this after electricity in the tunnel was impacted by the storm. Disaster Management teams are expected to assess the storm damage later this morning.
Meanwhile, Metrorail has suspended services between Bellville and Wellington due to bad weather. Metrorail’s Riana Scott says the Monte Vista line is operational, but is recording delays in excess of 60 minutes across the network.
The Western Cape’s schools and universities have been closed for the day and those who can are urged to work from home, and to stay indoors and off the roads. The Air Force is on standby should evacuations be necessary.
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