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The Western Cape was hammered by severe storms this long weekend, causing road closures, and mudslides and stranding thousands of people. Disaster management teams are also searching for three people who were reported missing after heavy downpours.

People had to be evacuated in different areas because of the heavy flooding, including six children trapped in three houses in Strand.

Reports of house flooding in formal housing areas have emerged from Durbanville, Bo-Kaap, Schaapkraal, Bellville South, Belhar, Sandvlei Macassar, Strand, Gordons Bay, and Knorhoek. Pretty much the entire Western Cape has been through the wringer this weekend.

Due to the floods, the Spaanschemat River also burst its bank onto M42 opposite Tokai Forest.

 

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Floods in the Western Cape, South Africa pic.twitter.com/tnU3HtGBeZ

— Beyers Barnard (@BeyersBarnard) September 24, 2023

On Monday, the Western Cape Department of Mobility urged motorists not to leave their locations because of road closures due to the severe storm. MEC Ricardo Mackenzie said the severe rainfall and flooding caused significant disruptions to the roads across the Western Cape.

Many schools have been reportedly closed for the day as teachers and pupils are unable to commute safely.

@expressoshow Have you been impacted by the storms in Cape Town? Share your stories,images or words of caution with us. Here’s the current situation on Chapmans Peak Drive. #ExpressoShow #CapeStorm ♬ original sound – Expresso Show

Naturally, social media has been flooded with images of the devastation. Although, for most Western Cape residents, a walk outside their front door would have given them a clear indication of just how intense the weekend weather was.

🚨 Road Closure Update 🚨: The N2 route in Western Cape Town is facing severe #flooding with the Botrivier bridge washed away. 🇿🇦#CapeTown #capeWeather #CapeStorm #MiWayMondays #HeritageDay #Uyajola99 #MTN8 pic.twitter.com/PNsPFmS0ew

— World Insights (@WorldInsights_) September 25, 2023

Other parts of the country have also experienced inclement weather as motorists on KwaZulu-Natal roads struggled in a storm from a cut-off low-pressure system. SAWS has also issued a level two warning for thunderstorms in Gauteng.

[source:news24&iol&ewn]