Eight people have been electrocuted
CAPE TOWN, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight people have been electrocuted after gale force winds and heavy rainfall lashed South Africa’s Western Cape province.
The deaths include four boys said to have been electrocuted in a pool of water, local news network ENCA says.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes, including residents of a retirement village.
Landslides and rockfalls forced the closure of a number of major roads leading into Cape Town.
Heavy downpours, which continued until late last night, caused several rivers to overflow, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure and widespread electricity outages.
Authorities have said that more than 1,000 homes were flooded and 150 schools damaged.
Weather conditions have slightly improved and mop up operations are under way.
The authorities in the province said they were still looking for missing people and assessing damage in the province following the storm.
The heavy floods caused widespread destruction including damaging homes, forcing some to move out.
Roads and bridges and other infrastructure were also damaged and some areas were inaccessible with many roads still considered unsafe.
“The integrity of our roads are affected due to the disaster that has occurred in our province. I ask that citizens remain cautious when travelling,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said on Tuesday.
Cape Town city authorities said teams were making “steady progress” in restoring storm-related power outages in several areas.
It however added that it was not able to tell when restoration would be complete due to the conditions and the extent of the damage. — NNN-AGENCIES
