PICS: Massive floods in the Cape
Akhona and Asithandile Kota navigate their way through Green Point Informal Settlement in Khayelitsha. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / African News Agency (ANA)
As the Cape is being hammered by a massive cold front, residents have experienced flooding that has caused traffic snarl-ups and trains being cancelled.
Commuters making use of Fish Hoek Train Station were left stranded on Monday after the train lines were flooded, forcing the line to end at Retreat.
Riana Scott, spokesperson for Metrorail, said: “The rail tracks are flooded in Fish Hoek after the heavy downpour early this morning.
“Until the water dissipates sufficiently to safely resume services, trains terminate at Retreat.
“Our staff are monitoring the situation and advising commuters accordingly.”
Regular updates are being provided via social media while the Fish Hoek station remained closed for the entire day.
A female commuter said: “I live in Simon’s Town and I work in Diep River but there were no trains this morning and the terminus was too hectic.
“Luckily my brother works from home and he could get a break so he could take me in.
“It was crazy driving on the roads today and I got to work almost an hour late.”
Meanwhile, a video doing the rounds showed massive flooding in Coronation Street, Maitland, adding to residents’ woes who’ve had poo popping out of drains due to damage to a nearby pump station.
According to SA Weather Service, Kapenaars and those in the Boland can expect heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas for the rest of the week.
Green Point informal settlement. Video: Ayand Ndamane/ANA
Anton Bredell, local Government and Environmental Affairs MEC, said the bad weather could affect water and electricity supply and disaster management is on standby.