Waves surge over the pier at Kalk Bay as very rough sea conditions impact parts of the Western Cape.
The Western Cape remains on high alert as one of the most severe weather systems to hit the province this winter continues to batter parts of the Garden Route and Central Karoo, with authorities warning that already saturated ground could lead to further flooding, infrastructure damage and disruptions to essential services.
Disaster management teams, emergency services and municipalities have been fully activated after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued high-impact weather warnings, including a rare Level 8 warning for parts of the eastern Garden Route and a Level 4 warning for the Central Karoo.
The warning levels reflect the severity of the expected impacts. A Level 8 warning indicates the potential for severe and widespread disruption, including significant flooding, infrastructure damage, road closures, power outages and threats to life. A Level 4 warning signals the likelihood of localised flooding, damage to property and infrastructure, and incidents requiring emergency response interventions.
Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said the Provincial Disaster Management Centre had been briefed by SAWS on a cut-off low-pressure system expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, very cold conditions and rough seas.
