Between September 23-26, 2023, a spell of severe weather wreaked havoc in the Western Cape province of South Africa, leading to widespread flooding, loss of life, and displacement of residents. The calamity caused extensive damage to both private and public infrastructure, resulting in road closures and power outages.
The impact of the severe weather was particularly felt in and around the city, with significant repercussions. Tragically, eight lives were lost due to electrocution from illegal electricity connections. Initial damage assessments, although ongoing, suggest that over 1,500 structures have been affected by the floods. The Kuils River overflowed, inundating the Mfuleni Township and necessitating the evacuation of around 2,710 families. Additional evacuations were reported in Faure and Sandvlei, impacting over 16,000 people, including 7,100 informal structures. News 24 reported 11 fatalities in the affected areas.
Furthermore, nearly 250 schools were reportedly affected by the disaster. At the peak of the storm, more than 100,000 people in the Western Cape Province were left without power. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities have yet to restore power to most affected areas, leaving approximately 15,000 residents without electricity as of September 27, 2023. Recognizing the severity of the situation, authorities in Cape Town issued a major incident declaration due to the extensive flooding. The repercussions of the flooding and associated disruptions continue to be felt across the Western Cape Province, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) report dated October 16, 2023.
In a subsequent event on October 21-22, 2023, heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, and strong winds struck the KwaZulu-Natal Region in eastern South Africa. This led to floods and severe weather-related incidents that resulted in casualties and substantial damage. Media reports indicate five fatalities in Mtubatuba Town in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal due to a thunderstorm. The town, along with Greater Kokstad and Umzimkhulu Municipalities, witnessed the destruction of over 70 houses, as well as damage to several roads and bridges. The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) reported these developments on October 24, 2023.