Cape Town - Heavy downpours across the province on Monday and Tuesday resulted in a number of massive flooding incidents and road accidents as well as destroyed homes, informal settlements and roads in Worcester, Paarl, Ceres, Oudtshoorn, George and other areas.
Residents were cautioned to stay at home and avoid the roads.
Thousands of people in the Western Cape were left stricken on Tuesday in the aftermath of flash flooding that followed a weather advisory by the SA Weather Service (Saws) of thunderstorms and widespread showers.
Saws issued another warning of severe showers and thunder showers resulting in flooding and large amounts of small hail over Prince Albert Municipality, eastern parts of the Garden Route District as well as extremely uncomfortable conditions over the Oudtshoorn Municipality expected late into Tuesday night.
Flooding was reported in the West Coast District Municipality, Cape Winelands District, Stellenbosch, Langeberg, Drakenstein (particularly in Paarl), and Central Karoo District in Laingsburg, Overberg, and a number of areas in the Garden Route District Municipality including Mossel Bay and George.
The City also reported localised flooding in Gordons Bay, Somerset West, Strand and Dunoon.
The Provincial Disaster Management Centre was on standby and remained in a state of readiness for load shedding, severe weather, and all other disaster-related incidents.
Local government MEC Anton Bredell said: “Local authorities are currently attending to the flood damages, and in a few cases the province is providing support. We have received feedback from affected municipalities and at this stage, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.”
Drakenstein Municipality executive mayor Conrad Poole said: “The area suffered an unusual storm on Tuesday, resulting in widespread flooding, fallen trees, temporary road closures and road surface damage, power outages and damaged property.” Drakenstein
Municipality spokesperson Riana Geldenhuys said approximately 250 incidents relating to flood and storm damage were reported on Monday and disaster management, roads and stormwater teams were attending to and cleaning up areas affected and rendering relief where required.
“People who would like to donate items to those residents whose homes have been flooded are encouraged to deliver these to the Fire Station in Berg River Boulevard in Paarl,” she said.
Drakenstein Municipality (covering Paarl, Wellington, Mbekweni, Gouda, Saron, Hermon and Simondium) cautioned its residents to brace themselves for more heavy rainfall predicted for this weekend.
On Tuesday, Gift of the Givers (GOTG) provided urgent humanitarian assistance to the flood-stricken communities after receiving requests from municipalities, disaster management and communities in De Doorns, which was badly hit, Worcester, Paarl, Ceres and Gouda.
In De Doorns, Ali Sablay from GOTG said 50 informal structures were completely washed away and several hundred homes damaged, while farmers experienced losses in the millions.
Situation in De Doorns, Breede Valley Municipality, after yesterday’s flooding across Cape, approximately 52 000 households affected here. Gift of the Givers (GOTG) is on the scene providing support for those affected. @TheCapeArgus @GiftoftheGivers
— Kristin Engel (@_kuristina) December 13, 2022
Video: Ali Sablay/GOTG pic.twitter.com/5nXPcYNum4
Gift of the Givers are heading to De Doorns to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the flood stricken communities @TheCapeArgus
— Kristin Engel (@_kuristina) December 13, 2022
Video: supplied pic.twitter.com/vOM92nkqMq
kristin.engel@inl.co.za