Spring Tide Attack: Cleanup Operations Commence After High-Impact Weather Hits Cape Coastline

The normally serene coastline of Cape Town and Gordon's Bay was sent into disarray Saturday following a weather event of unusual severity. High wave spring tides unleashed a torrent of chaos and destruction, washing away cars, damaging coastal structures, and leaving 16 sectors of Cape Town without power. The aftermath of this weather anomaly is now under thorough assessment and clean-up, which started on Sunday.

Footage showing the wild waves and how they swept cars away in Gordon’s Bay, or caused destruction to seaside restaurants went viral, highlighting the extent of the unexpected weather’s power. The City of Cape Town has confirmed that due to resultant high seas and localized flooding, road closures have been put in place along Baden Powell Drive, Beach Road and the R44, Beach Roadd and Gordon's Bay Road.

Charlotte Powell, spokesperson for Disaster Risk Management, updated about the assessments stating, “Our Disaster Management teams were out on Saturday to carry out assessments in the Gordon's Bay coastal area. Preliminary feedback indicates some houses were damaged along with sand and debris accumulating in roadways."

The cleanup operations led by the City’s Solid Waste department have moved into action, working with Traffic services, Law Enforcement, and Metro Police, as they attempt to restore normalcy. Yet, the impacts of the weather were far from localized, extending to areas beyond the City of Cape Town borders, specifically impacting the Garden Route, where an elderly woman was reported dead after a wave washed over her at Lentjiesklip.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson, Craig Lambinon commented on the gravity of the situation, “In George and the Southern Cape coastline, there has been widespread damage, including sand dune erosion and structural damage." According to Lambinon, a man was also injured during the weather-related incidents and was immediately hospitalized. The weather service is continuously monitoring the aftermath and advising precautionary measures for the public safety.