National
18 000 affected by W-Cape floods─── 07:37 Sun, 17 Nov 2013
Over 18 000 people have been affected by widespread floods in the Western Cape.
According to Cape Town disaster management spokesperson Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, an evacuation was initiated and people were sheltered in various halls.
The affected areas included Delft, Faure, Fish Hoek, Gugulethu, Hout Bay, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Macassar, Phillippi, Scarborough, Sir Lowry's Pass, Somerset West, Strand and Vahalla Park.
The flooding caused numerous rockfalls, mudslides and landslides along mountainous areas.
Many areas are also still without power as conditions are too hazardous in certain instances to restore supply.
Meanwhile, a woman died and while another is still missing after their car was swept away by flood waters in Stellenbosch.
Police spokesperson Thembinkosi Kinana says the two women were on their way to church when they tried to cross a bridge in Jonkershoek. The heavy waters swept their car into the river.
The body of the deceased was recovered yesterday. The search for the other will continue once the water has subsided.
Earlier, provincial disaster management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell, said 70 residents from Kays Caravan Park were placed at the Garden Village hall and 129 patients were evacuated at the Vergelegen Mediclinic in Somerset West on Friday night.
The rain is expected to continue today.
- Sapa
