Heavy rainfall and strong winds have wreaked havoc in some areas of the Western Cape – rain is expected to continue on Thursday evening, and water levels are unlikely to subside until Saturday.
Low-lying areas in the Overberg – including Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas, Stanford and Hermanus have experienced severe flooding since Wednesday, 5 May.
Residents had to be evacuated and are being housed in community centres until the water subsides. The Cape Agulhas Municipality reached out to humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers for assistance, and they arrived with a truckload of food supplies and other personal items.
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Two people from Bonnievale were killed when the vehicle they were trapped in overturned. Spokesperson for the Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, James Brent Styan, said bad weather is expected to continue throughout Thursday.
In Stanford, footage of scaffolding washing away under a bridge caused a big stir. In a video shared on social media, you can see massive scaffolding flowing through the raging water under a bridge – and as the water moves the rods rise higher. This is surely a serious concern for safety.
Roads remain flooded and certain areas are no-go zones because of the thick mud. The Cape Agulhas Municipality also cautioned motorists to be extra vigilant for road closures in the affected areas.
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