Cape Town, South Africa’s legislative capital, was hit by severe flooding and strong winds on Thursday, leaving thousands of homes damaged and several areas underwater.
The City’s Disaster Operations Centre reported that informal settlements, including Khayelitsha, were severely affected, with approximately 14,000-15,000 structures impacted.
“We are working on between 14,000-15,000 structures that have been affected, but that number keeps changing,” said Wouter Kriel, provincial disaster management centre spokesman. “Some are houses, some are structures… including informal settlements which have been badly affected.”
Residents described the devastating scene, with Sammy Gelord, a Cape Town resident, saying the wind ripped off his roof in the Wynberg suburb. “I never saw something like that in my life – it just took the roof and everything,” he said.
The Western Cape education department closed dozens of schools due to severe weather warnings, while the South African Weather Service predicted “disruptive rain leading to flooding and possible mudslides” in Cape Town and surrounding areas. The region has experienced rare heavy snowfalls in mountainous areas, leaving thousands homeless. The Western Cape provincial government has appealed for emergency aid from national authorities.
