Residents of Cape Town woke to a morning of chaos as severe weather swept through the region, bringing torrential rain and damaging winds that wreaked havoc across multiple informal and formal settlements, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre reported extensive flooding in areas including Island, Makhaza, Monwabisi, Imizamo Yethu, Nomzamo, Lwandle, and others.
Humanitarian partners are currently distributing hot meals and blankets to affected communities as they grapple with the aftermath of the deluge.
Flooding has also impacted formal areas, with significant reports emerging from a day care centre in Mitchells Plain and the intersection of Mercury and Galaxy Roads in Rocklands.
Charlotte Powell, a spokesperson for Disaster Risk Management, highlighted damage to roofs across numerous properties, particularly in Grindal Avenue in Lavender Hill, Gugulethu, and other suburbs like Philippi and Wynberg.
The Vygieskraal Canal in Belgravia has reached its capacity and is overflowing, with roads such as Rosmead Avenue in Wynberg and several in Mitchells Plain being rendered impassable.
In the Deep South, Dido Valley Road has also succumbed to flooding, while rockfalls have been reported on Chapman’s Peak and Ou Kaapse Weg, imperilling drivers heading towards Tokai.
Worse still, the violent weather has taken a human toll. Tragically, one person died when a tree fell onto their vehicle in Kenilworth, and a motorist was injured in a separate incident in Parow.
As wind gusts uprooted trees across the metropole, many have fallen onto power lines and vehicles, leading to extensive power outages in several areas.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant, as conditions are expected to persist until at least tomorrow, according to the South African Weather Service.
Powell underscored the challenges faced by emergency responders: ‘Due to the conditions and the risk to safety of staff members, some services are unable to conduct reinstatements, repairs, and assessments currently,’
The City is actively attending to an overwhelming number of weather-related incidents, including flooding, fallen trees, and electricity outages.
Powell emphasised that emergency and technical teams are committed to resolving these issues as swiftly and safely as possible, while urging the public to exercise caution on the roads, avoid flooded areas, and treat all downed electrical infrastructure as live and dangerous.
Residents have been warned to stay far away from extremely dangerous scenes reported across the city:
- Live electrical wires lying in the road in Fish Hoek
- A roof and trees being ripped off a house in Lakeshore Drive, Lake Michelle
- A sparking electricity pole near False Bay Hospital
- Parts of the Valyland Centre roof tearing loose in the wind
- A fallen tree in the Long Beach Mall parking area
- A collapsed structure on Old Kommetjie Road in Wingate Heights
- Rockley Road in Wynberg completely submerged under a bridge
On Baden Powell Drive, officials have warned motorists to watch for debris blown in from offshore winds.
11 May, 202: 9am – Severe weather wreaks havoc in Cape Town with floods and damaging winds
Cape Town is reeling from the impact of a severe weather system that has unleashed damaging winds and heavy rainfall across the city, resulting in widespread flooding and hazardous driving conditions, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution as they navigate the treacherous roadways that have become inundated with water, debris, and fallen trees.
On the M3 near Rhodes Drive, a tree has fallen and is obstructing traffic, posing a significant hazard to motorists.
Reports of live wires across Rosmead Avenue near the Wynberg Fire Station have also sparked safety concerns, leading to lane closures as traffic officers respond to the situation.
‘We urge road users to be incredibly careful,’ said Kevin Jacobs, Traffic Services Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town. ‘Please slow down to avoid the risk of aquaplaning; driving with your headlights on is essential to ensure visibility to oncoming traffic,’
As localised flooding disrupts several areas, commuters are warned to expect delays and seek alternative routes if possible.
Among the worst-affected areas are Olieboom Road, Kraal, and Varkensvlei, where significant flooding has caused road blockages.
On Hazeldene Road in Mitchell’s Plain and at various intersections, including Merrydale Road and Westpoort Road, rising water levels are making road access nearly impossible.
Heavy rainfall has not only led to flooded roadways but also power outages affecting multiple regions, with infrastructure damage caused by the ferocity of the storm.
In fact, a major outage has been reported between Heathfield and Lakeside, and the Southern line train service is currently suspended, terminating at Wynberg due to fallen trees on the railway tracks.
Commuters are being advised to factor in an additional travel time of 40 to 50 minutes as they seek alternative transportation.
As the storm intensifies, the South African Weather Service has issued multiple severe weather alerts, adding an Orange Level 8 warning over parts of the Western Cape, which includes Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and nearby municipalities.
Officials have warned that strong winds and rising water levels could lead to further flooding and mudslides, putting residents and infrastructure at risk.
Emergency management teams across the province remain on high alert, prepared to respond to flash floods and other storm-related emergencies.
SABC Newsalso reports that The storm’s dangerous conditions have already led to injuries, with reports of a woman being transported to hospital after a tree fell on her car in Plattekloof.
Adding to the chaos, structural damage has been reported at the Glencairn Spar, where parts of the roof are being torn away by the gale-force winds, sending debris flying through the area—a clear danger to pedestrians and motorists alike.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Cape Town braces for severe weather as flood warnings escalate
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook
