Gale-force winds throughout the Western Cape have precipitated humanitarian concerns and pose a threat to infrastructure within Stellenbosch as the town braces for a level-9 storm warning for 8 April.
This was according to Colin Deiner, Western Cape chief director of disaster management, who spoke at a digital conference held at 13:00 on the afternoon of 7 April. “All our activities will be focused towards [the] protection of human life,” said Deiner. The protection of critical infrastructure and property is also a priority for disaster management, he said.
Fires fanned by strong winds
According to Deiner, a fire that raged in Kayamandi on 6 April has been extinguished by the local fire department and the affected area has since been evacuated. However, debris from the fire is still being blown around by the strong winds, raising concerns for the health and safety of local residents, he said.
According to Alan Winde, Western Cape premier, wind speeds between 120 and 150 km/hr have been reported within the Western Cape. SOURCE: Supplied/Windy.com
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch Municipality and Cape Winelands District (CWD) Municipality were still in the process of fighting a fire in Blaauwklippen on the afternoon of 7 April after it was exacerbated by harsh winds. However, the strong winds have hindered their efforts. This was according to Heinrich Louw, CWD fire service incident commander.
“Unfortunately, the fire remains out of control, exacerbated by gusting winds,” Louw said.
Infrastructure damage due to wind
Falling trees and metal roof sheets becoming dislodged are potential hazardous byproducts of the strong winds in areas affected by strong winds, said Alan Winde, Western Cape premier, during an online conference on Sunday afternoon. The winds have also caused infrastructure damage, and several schools throughout the Western Cape have already had their roofs blown off or damaged, Winde added.
Due to the gale-force winds, falling trees are a serious hazard for residents, according to Alan Winde, Western Cape premier. PHOTO: Antoinette Steyn
This contributed to the decision that “schools are going to be closed in the Overberg region, Winelands District region, and the Helderberg Basin” on 8 April, as these areas are expected to be the most affected areas in the Western Cape, said Winde.
According to Winde, the harsh winds have reached speeds of between 120 and 150 km/hr as of 13:00 on 7 April in some parts of the Western Cape.