Cape Town Mayor Declares 'Major Incident' For Hard-Hit Flood Zones

Yesterday afternoon, a significant advancement was made in the recovery operations following the severe storm in Cape Town. Geordin Hill-Lewis, the City of Cape Town Mayor, officially signed a major incident declaration focused on the regions most affected by this calamity. This move promises to bolster the relief efforts significantly, as it will permit the release of additional resources and support measures to alleviate the storm's aftermath.

The devastating storm persisted throughout the previous weekend causing immense destruction, and resulted in the unfortunate loss of eight individuals. The affect of this major environmental occurrence has left municipal officials hustling tirelessly to provide relief for the several storm-impacted communities.

Mayor Hill-Lewis recounted his experiences by stating, "I prioritised visiting the areas gravely hit such as Sir Lowry's Pass Village and Rasta Kamp and assessed the extent of the damage. The scale of displaced people and the number of structures needing rebuilding were crucial factors in my decision to declare this a major incident. As a result of signing the necessary papers today, this declaration will trigger a more extensive response mechanism."

Distressingly, the storm has left an estimated 12,000 residents in a state of critical disruption. The City of Cape Town highlighted that numerous informal communities in numerous city parts were facing the storm's severity head-on.

Charlotte Powell, the city's disaster management spokesperson, told Satori News that a collapsed bridge in Sandvlei, Macassar, is currently receiving the needed attention. In unison with their efforts, she noted, officials are conducting damage assessments and cleaning operations.

Adding, “Our NGO partners are heartily extending their help by providing the worst-hit communities with hot meals, food parcels, blankets, and mattresses."