Cape Town’s disaster and emergency workers continued removing debris and unblocking stormwater drains on Tuesday after heavy rains that drove thousands from their homes.
Charlotte Powell, a spokesperson for Cape Town’s disaster and emergency management, told the Mail & Guardian that about 20 000 people have had their living arrangements thrown into disarray by the flooding.
”About 63 informal settlements across the city have been affected,” she said, ” and we have made accommodation available in community halls across the Cape Flats.”
”Relief organisations and NGOs are providing the affected residents hot meals and blankets while the city is responsible for emergency accommodation.
Traffic leading into Cape Town north of the city was reported to have been jammed on Tuesday morning after flooding in the area.
On Monday the Lourens River in Strand and Liesbeek River outside the city burst their banks. Floods also hit suburbs such as Newlands, Rondebosch, Claremont and Somerset West.
The SA Weather Service Cape Town said on Monday that the weather office at Cape Town International Airport had recorded the second-highest rainfall for a 24-hour period in July since recording started in 1957.
The station recorded 55,2 millimetres for the 24 hours from 8am on Sunday to 8am on Monday. The highest figure recorded for a 24-hour period in July was 61mm in 1985.
Forecasters expect the weather to clear by Wednesday. — Sapa