The City’s Disaster Operations Center says eight people were electrocuted to death – four people in the Covid-19 informal settlement in Driftsands, as well as four children in the Klipfontein area, as emergency storm assistance continues.
It’s unclear the exact circumstances behind the electrocutions but it’s believed the weather played a role, aswell as illegal connections.
At least three others have died in the flooding in the Western Cape. One person died in Villiersdorp, another one in Bot-river and a third person from Vyeboom died when the person was swept away by floodwaters.
It comes as emergency services continue to provide assistance to people affected by the floods.
🚨 #CapeStorm Update: I spent time with @CityofCT teams dealing with serious flooding incidents.
Please stay clear of fast flowing water and swollen streams. pic.twitter.com/llzgbATfSr
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) September 25, 2023
Overnight, emergency services assisted six children who were trapped in three different homes in the Strand and evacuated them to the Strand fire station.
Residents were also evacuated from a retirement home in Somerset West, and 170 people were evacuated to a ward in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.
Emergency crews also helped with evacuations from Faure and Sandvlei in Macassar.
A group of people was reported trapped at the Kogel Bay resort as a result of roads being closed on both sides leading to Gordon’s Bay and Rooi Els. The Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre assisted the City in rescue efforts.
The NSRI also helped rescue a number of residents.
My niece, husband and their cat had to be evacuated from their home in Stanford by boat. #CapeStorm #Overberg Thanks to the ever-ready @NSRI pic.twitter.com/2ny9FK6LJw
— Helen Walne (@helen_walne) September 25, 2023
To date, flooding has been confirmed in the following informal settlements:
Shuku-Shukma & Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Rasta Camp, Riemvasmaak, 7de Laan Sandvlei Macassar, Old Faure Driftsands, Mfuleni, Bellville South, NY111 Gugulethu, Barcelona IFS Gugulethu, Greepark IFS Mfuleni, Thabo Mbeki IFS Philippi East, RR Section PJS Section TRA Section in Khayelitsha, Taiwan IFS Site C Khayelitsha, Paul Avenue Macaza IFS Khayelitsha, Morkel Cottages IFS Strand, Ekuphumleni IFS Du Noon. DM Section, France IFS, QQ Section, Green Point, Qandu Qandu IFS and SST IFS, Khayelitsha, 8ste Laan IFS Valhalla Park.
Assessments so far indicate that just under a thousand structures have been impacted.
Sand and milling has already started being distributed to assist affected communities, while a number of humanitarian relief agencies are assisting with meals, blankets and other supplies like baby packs.
Flooding of formal dwellings has also been reported in several areas, including Durbanville, Bo-Kaap, Schaapkraal, Bellville South, Belhar, Sandvlei in Macassar, Strand, Gordons Bay, Knorhoek, Scottsdene and Hout Bay.
A Building Inspector have attended to a house in Sir Louwrys Pass Village which was busy collapsing.
At Wemmershoek Dam, the sluice gate was opened at stage 6 to mitigate downstream flooding but opening of gates has been downgraded to stage 3.
The Lourens- and Eersteriver have burst its banks. Spaanschemat River burst its bank onto M42 opposite Tokai Forest.
Reports have also been received in Hout Bay Main road, Macassar, Rondebosch East, Durbanville, Kuilsriver, Woodstock, Klipheuwel IFS, Malmesbury farms, Goodwood, Bellville, Protea Village, Uitsig, Brackenfell and Belmont Park. The Recreation and Parks is attending to these incidents.
Weather related power outages were experienced in several parts of the city. Electricity technicians have been attending to affected areas to restore power.
Any incident presenting a risk to public safety should be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700.
Numerous roads were closed due to flooding, including Sir Lowry’s pass and the R60, with the Western Cape Government last night urging long-weekend travelers to rather stay put.
Videos of entire towns under water was doing the rounds on social media. Franschhoek and Stanford were badly affected.
Stanford, Western Cape#CapeStorm pic.twitter.com/P7728JvPda
— Peché Africa 🇿🇦 (@pmcafrica) September 25, 2023
Cape Town – Chapman's Peak Drive: ROAD CLOSED (Latest) #CapeStorm #Chappies pic.twitter.com/o15Tv2IIMA
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) September 25, 2023
