A massive cold front Thursday night and a second, weaker cold front Saturday brought heavy rains to Cape Town, Johannesburg, South Africa. Cape Town authorities have since said that the city is stepping up its major storms and flooding plan.
City manager Achmat Ebrahim said Cape Town's disaster coordinating team would begin clearing storm water and sewage system blockages immediately. Until then, the city's health department is encouraging residents living in affected areas to avoid contact with standing or flood water. And according to Cape Town disaster management spokesperson Johan Minnie, more than 30,000 people living in about 8,000 shacks across the metropolitan area have been affected in various ways.
City disaster management, social services, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Mustadafin Foundation and other organizations have been providing citizens relief in the form of blankets, meals and food parcels.
Eight community halls have been opened for residents forced by flood waters to flee their homes, Minnie said. "The facilities are open to people who decide to use them, although many people have decided to stay in their homes," he added.
Minnie attributed Cape Town's flooding emergency to blockages caused by litter and rubbish dumped in storm drains. The mos recent incident occurred at Vygieskraal Canal in Athlone. Minie said the canal burst its banks about 3 a.m. Sunday, causing damange to nearby homes.
Weather forecasters predicted the rain would subside by Sunday night and that heavy rains would not strike again until Wednesday.
Source: Mail & Guardian
