Franschhoek floods
The Overberg, Cape Winelands and Garden Route were worst-affected during this weekend’s storm. Photo: Catherine Swanson

Home » WATCH: Scenes of disaster in Franschhoek in wake of Cape storm

WATCH: Scenes of disaster in Franschhoek in wake of Cape storm

Franschhoek, often regarded as South Africa’s food and wine capital, saw some of the worst damage from this weekend’s Cape storm.

27-09-23 10:05
Franschhoek floods
The Overberg, Cape Winelands and Garden Route were worst-affected during this weekend’s storm. Photo: Catherine Swanson

The small Western Cape town of Franschhoek, just 80kms from Cape Town, saw a record 299mm of rainfall during a storm that battered the Cape over the Heritage Day weekend.

South African Weather Service (SAWS) spokesperson Robin-Lee Batties said it was the highest figure recorded on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Cape Town grapples with floods, evacuations, and road closures

Franschhoek storm
The Overberg, Cape Winelands and Garden Route were worst-affected during this weekend’s storm. Photo: Catherine Swanson

Cape Town resident Catherine Swanson captured some of the devastation while being temporarily stranded after widespread flooding washed away roads and bridges.

“It was meant to be a romantic weekend away in Franschhoek!” said Swanson. “It’s unreal to see the amount of water and the sheer force of it. The whole town is wrecked.

Franschhoek main road. Video: Catherine Swanson

“We ended up getting stuck but made it out today [Tuesday] – there is one road open.”

SAWS issued a Level 9 warning on Sunday for disruptive rain across Cape Town, parts of the Overberg and the Cape Winelands, and warned that widespread flooding, severe thunderstorms, gale-force winds and rough seas could be expected.

Dirkie Uys Street. Video: Catherine Swanson

The Overberg, Cape Winelands and Garden Route were the worst-affected areas while parts of Cape Town grappled with floods, evacuations, road closures and power outages.

Akademie street. Video: Catherine Swanson

Numerous reports of ongoing flooding incidents were received from areas throughout the metropole. Areas severely affected by floods include Taiwan IFS Site C Khayelitsha, Morkel Cottages IFS Strand, Ekuphumleni IFS Du Noon, DM Section, France IFS, QQ Section, Green Point, Qandu Qandu IFS, SST IFS and Khayelitsha.

Akademie street. Photo: Catherine Swanson

ALSO READ: More than 20 rainfall records broken in one day in three SA provinces

The storm caused the Spaanschemat River to overflow onto the M42, opposite Tokai Forest, resulting in several evacuations. Meanwhile, a powerful crosswind caused a Golden Arrow bus to overturn on Jack Gerwel Drive on Monday morning.

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