Photo: Nomalungelo King / Twitter
Photo: Nomalungelo King / Twitter
A raft of incessant rain has brought flood chaos to a number of South African provinces, with Limpopo and Mpumalanga bearing the brunt of the extreme weather. Meanwhile, Gauteng and North West are also bracing for further impact on Tuesday.
The South African Weather Services (SAWS) has issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rain expected to affect four provinces on Tuesday. In a statement, SAWS said inclement weather would be experienced over Gauteng, the western bushveld of Limpopo, western Mpumalanga, central and eastern parts of North West and north-eastern Free State.
Over the past week, large parts of the country have been battered by heavy rains that originated from Tropical Storm Eloise a week ago that destroyed infrastructure in various regions. The SAWS on Tuesday warned the public to avoid low-lying bridges, roads covered with water and keep a safe following distance on the roads.
Heavy rain continues to cause havoc around in mpumalanga especially in nkomazi area.pls drive wth caution on some low water bridges.@ligwalagwalaFM @TRACN4route @nkomazi_fm @RISEfm943 @NKOMAZI_NEWS @TrafficSA. pic.twitter.com/2ap1FZnNN1
— junior zwane (@zwane07) February 2, 2021
#CycloneEloise hit block A TONGA Mpumalanga ? pic.twitter.com/a5ycTjF70w
— khaligraphykim (@__Mbuga) February 1, 2021
@SAWeatherServic @TrafficSA Tswinga Bridge, Thoyandou pic.twitter.com/1db20ZDUBP
— Shanon Tabane (@TabaneShanon) February 2, 2021
Heavy floods at Mohlaletse Limpopo pic.twitter.com/EWi85Mydaj
— Mr FetakgomoLifestyle (@mahlatseMla) February 1, 2021
⚠️Yellow Level 4 warning for disruptive rain over Gauteng, Western Bushveld of Limpopo, Western Mpumalanga, central and Eastern parts of North West and north-eastern Free State (02 February). Avoid low lying bridges, roads covered with water and keep a safe following distance.
— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) February 2, 2021
On Tuesday morning, eastern regions of Limpopo were cranked up to Level 5 warnings. Bushbuckridge, Phalaborwa, Bushbuckridge, Makhado, and Giyani have now gone up a notch, according to the latest data provided by SAWS. The increase in threat means that disruptive events are more likely to happen in these regions, including: