Wind, rock falls and floods hit Cape Town yesterday - portents of a stormy winter that officials believe will be much wetter than usual.
About 300 houses were flooded in the Solly's Town informal settlement, east of the city, and a rock fall in Tygervalley destroyed the entrance to a parking garage. Officials handed out blankets and hot meals to affected residents.
City disaster management spokesman Charlotte Powell said people should prepare for a wet winter.
In anticipation of further flooding, city authorities are setting up temporary relocation areas and have identified 20 communities that are living in "natural water course areas" that are at high risk.
The city said the extra precautions were necessary because of the unusually high levels of underground water, a result of last year's heavy rainfalls.
City spokesman Charles Cooper said: "The problem is not so much the rain coming down but the water coming up from below."
City and provincial authorities have fast-tracked construction of relocation areas, each of which can accommodate 1500 shelters. Work began this week at four sites in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.
"Though Cape Town makes every effort to prepare for winter rains, it is difficult to prevent flooding in low-lying informal settlements," Elizabeth Thompson, mayoral committee member for transport, roads and major projects, said.
Chapman's Peak Drive was closed yesterday because of strong winds, and high seas kept many ships in port. Waves exceeding 5m were expected.
The weather office said steady rain across much of Western Cape was good news for farmers but could add to problems in informal settlements.
City disaster management spokesman Charlotte Powell said people should prepare for a wet winter.
In anticipation of further flooding, city authorities are setting up temporary relocation areas and have identified 20 communities that are living in "natural water course areas" that are at high risk.
The city said the extra precautions were necessary because of the unusually high levels of underground water, a result of last year's heavy rainfalls.
City spokesman Charles Cooper said: "The problem is not so much the rain coming down but the water coming up from below."
City and provincial authorities have fast-tracked construction of relocation areas, each of which can accommodate 1500 shelters. Work began this week at four sites in Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.
"Though Cape Town makes every effort to prepare for winter rains, it is difficult to prevent flooding in low-lying informal settlements," Elizabeth Thompson, mayoral committee member for transport, roads and major projects, said.
Chapman's Peak Drive was closed yesterday because of strong winds, and high seas kept many ships in port. Waves exceeding 5m were expected.
The weather office said steady rain across much of Western Cape was good news for farmers but could add to problems in informal settlements.
- TimesLive
No comments:
Post a Comment