By Tauhierah Salie
The South African Weather Service has assured that tropical cyclone Batsirai does not pose a severe threat to the country.
The cyclone claimed one life and left hundreds without electricity in Mauritius and drenched the French island of La Reunion for two days with torrential rain. It is now forecast to continue in a south-westerly direction.
Schools were closed and flights cancelled in Madacascar on Friday, as the UN and several others now prepare for Batsirai’s potentially devastating landfall today. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the storm poses a risk to at least 4.4 million people in “one way or another”.
Meanwhile Relief efforts for those hit by last weeks’ Tropical Storm Ana continue. The storm affected more than 126 thousand people, claimed 21 lives and injured over 200. The storm also hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, causing dozens of deaths.
The SAWS says unrelated heavy rains can be expected along the East Coast and adjacent interior.
Another “extreme heat” advisory has also been issued to certain parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape. The Western Cape registered record-breaking temperatures of 45.2°C in Cape Town and 45.9 °C in Robertson on the weekend of the 21-23 Jan 2022, through these were not officially accepted.
Photo: Articfocus
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