Cape Town braces for more flooding

CAPE TOWN – Torrential rains have caused flooding across the Cape Peninsula, resulting in damaged railway tracks, fatal accidents and mudslides, officials reported yesterday.

Various officials were engaging in clean-up operations yesterday after heavy flooding over the weekend, and were still on alert with further heavy falls expected. Cape Town Metro Police registered about 44 accidents over the weekend, when rainfall exceeding 150mm in areas all over the peninsula.”We had one fatality in Philippi yesterday and two serious injuries,” Metro Police spokesperson, Merle Laurens told News24.Most car accidents were a result of “people are not bothering to slow down”, she said.Just before she spoke to News24 an accident took place on the Table Bay Boulevard outgoing, and 10 minutes later another one of the same road going into the city.She said the number of accidents were highly abnormal and attributable to the weather.”We still predict a lot of rain until Wednesday at least so we are on high alert,” she said.Weather forecaster, Niek Koegelenberg said that heavy rainfall was expected to persist for Monday and Tuesday, with 80 -100 per cent chance of rain.He said the varied topography of the peninsula meant flooding was very different in various areas.The City of Cape Town’s disaster management said the worst hit areas were on the Cape Flats.”This is due to the high water table and limited run-off capacity,” said Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.”Formal areas have experienced only limited localised flooding due to blocked drains.”Philippi was hit hardest with thousands of houses flooded in the Kosovo, Pola Park, Boys Town and Never Never areas.The Disaster Response Teams said 3 600 structures in 23 informal settlements had been affected, with more being assessed.Disaster relief in the form of hot meals, blankets and emergency shelter were being provided to the flood victims.Rhodes Drive had mud slides on Sunday, causing the road to be closed for about two hours.Lourens said no roads were closed yesterday.Meanwhile, train tracks were damaged between Wolseley and Worcester and passengers were ferried by bus.”It affected on daily train from Worcester,” Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott told News24 yesterdayy.”Our technicians have been working non-stop and they anticipate that the track would be repaired by this afternoon.”Thousands were left homeless and are being housed in various community halls.Victims of xenophobic violence at Youngsfield Military Base had their tents flooded too.News24Cape Town Metro Police registered about 44 accidents over the weekend, when rainfall exceeding 150mm in areas all over the peninsula.”We had one fatality in Philippi yesterday and two serious injuries,” Metro Police spokesperson, Merle Laurens told News24.Most car accidents were a result of “people are not bothering to slow down”, she said.Just before she spoke to News24 an accident took place on the Table Bay Boulevard outgoing, and 10 minutes later another one of the same road going into the city.She said the number of accidents were highly abnormal and attributable to the weather.”We still predict a lot of rain until Wednesday at least so we are on high alert,” she said.Weather forecaster, Niek Koegelenberg said that heavy rainfall was expected to persist for Monday and Tuesday, with 80 -100 per cent chance of rain.He said the varied topography of the peninsula meant flooding was very different in various areas.The City of Cape Town’s disaster management said the worst hit areas were on the Cape Flats.”This is due to the high water table and limited run-off capacity,” said Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.”Formal areas have experienced only limited localised flooding due to blocked drains.”Philippi was hit hardest with thousands of houses flooded in the Kosovo, Pola Park, Boys Town and Never Never areas.The Disaster Response Teams said 3 600 structures in 23 informal settlements had been affected, with more being assessed.Disaster relief in the form of hot meals, blankets and emergency shelter were being provided to the flood victims.Rhodes Drive had mud slides on Sunday, causing the road to be closed for about two hours.Lourens said no roads were closed yesterday.Meanwhile, train tracks were damaged between Wolseley and Worcester and passengers were ferried by bus.”It affected on daily train from Worcester,” Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott told News24 yesterdayy.”Our technicians have been working non-stop and they anticipate that the track would be repaired by this afternoon.”Thousands were left homeless and are being housed in various community halls.Victims of xenophobic violence at Youngsfield Military Base had their tents flooded too.News24