Cyclone Kenneth Mozambique

Residents stand next to a road partially destroyed by floods after heavy downpours in Pemba, on April 28, 2019, after the destruction caused by Cyclone Kenneth. – Heavy rains from a powerful cyclone lashed northern Mozambique on April 27, 2019, sparking fears of flooding as aid workers arrived to assess the damage, just weeks after the country suffered one of the worst storms in its history. Cyclone Kenneth, a Category Three storm on the hurricane scale, made landfall in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province late on April 25 after swiping the Comoros islands. It made landfall a day later, killing one person and wrecking thousands of homes. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

Tshwane braces for ‘disruptive rain’ caused by Cyclone Eloise

The City of Tshwane has warned that the heavy rains, as a result of Tropical Cyclone Eloise, could have a devastating effect on the environment, including its infrastructure

Cyclone Kenneth Mozambique

Residents stand next to a road partially destroyed by floods after heavy downpours in Pemba, on April 28, 2019, after the destruction caused by Cyclone Kenneth. – Heavy rains from a powerful cyclone lashed northern Mozambique on April 27, 2019, sparking fears of flooding as aid workers arrived to assess the damage, just weeks after the country suffered one of the worst storms in its history. Cyclone Kenneth, a Category Three storm on the hurricane scale, made landfall in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province late on April 25 after swiping the Comoros islands. It made landfall a day later, killing one person and wrecking thousands of homes. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)

The City of Tshwane has issued a weather warning to its citizens, as Tropical Cyclone Eloise continues leaving its mark in the country. The municipality has called on residents to be cautious as heavy rain is expected in parts of the city on Monday, 25 January 2021.

“Following a level 10 warning for disruptive rain in various municipalities in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, the City of Tshwane Emergency Services calls on residents in the northern and north eastern parts of the City to be on high alert, as parts of Gauteng and the City may also experience some disruptive rain from Monday 25 January 2021,” the City of Tshwane’s Charles Mabaso said in a statement.

“The level 10 warning indicates that the impact of the cyclone on the infrastructure, lives and livelihoods of people and animals and the environment is likely to very devastating,” Mabaso added.

Cyclone Eloise: Local emergency officials on high alert

Tropical Cyclone Eloise has already wreaked havoc in neighbouring Mozambique, having left at least 7 000 people destitute. According to reports, four people are believed to have been killed. Cyclone Eloise was downgraded to a depression, having lost some of its strength.

Pictures and videos on social media, show the devastating effect of Cyclone Eloise. Parts of Mozambie are still recovering from the immense damage caused by cyclones, Idai and Kenneth, which struck in 2019. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands were forced to flee their homes.

The storm has already hit parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, prompting disaster management teams to be on high alert.

“We call upon residents that may experience rain in the various regions of the City to be vigilant and alert of possible flooding of susceptible roads and low-lying bridges that could make traveling difficult, and cause damage to formal and informal settlements,” Mabaso added.

The city has not ruled out the possible damage being caused, as a result of the heavy rains.

“The risk of trees being uprooted by the wind and the fact that the ground is already wet in most places remains. This might result in damage to infrastructure and proprieties, as well as danger to humans due to flying debris”