Residents of Cape Town, South Africa, were surprised and alarmed by an unusual sight on Saturday: giant waves crashing onto the shore, flooding roads and damaging properties. The waves, which reached up to six meters high, were caused by a combination of strong winds, high tides and a storm surge.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a warning for coastal flooding and advised people to avoid the affected areas. Some roads were closed and traffic was diverted as the water levels rose. Several cars were submerged and some buildings were damaged by the waves.
“It was scary. I’ve never seen anything like this before. The waves were huge and they just kept coming. I had to move my car to higher ground because the water was getting too close,” said Ntombi Mkhize, a resident of Sea Point, one of the worst-hit areas.
Another resident, John Smith, said he was worried about his business, which is located near the beachfront. “I hope the water doesn’t get inside. I have a lot of equipment and stock there. This is going to affect my income for sure,” he said.
The City of Cape Town said it was monitoring the situation and providing assistance to those in need. It also urged residents to report any incidents of flooding or damage to its emergency services.
“We are working closely with the SAWS and other relevant authorities to assess the impact of this coastal phenomenon. We ask residents to exercise caution and follow the safety instructions issued by the SAWS,” said Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.
According to experts, such large waves are rare but not unprecedented in Cape Town. They occur when a low-pressure system moves over the ocean, creating strong winds that push the water towards the shore. The high tides and storm surge amplify the effect, resulting in higher than normal water levels.
“This is a natural phenomenon that happens occasionally along our coastline. It is not related to climate change or sea level rise. However, it does pose a risk to life and property, especially in low-lying areas,” said Dr. Greg Johnson, a marine scientist at the University of Cape Town.
He added that similar events have occurred in other parts of the world, such as Australia, Japan and the United States. In June this year, a storm surge caused by Tropical Storm Claudette flooded parts of Louisiana and Alabama. In July, Typhoon In-fa triggered massive waves that battered the coast of China.
Johnson said that while such events are hard to predict, people can take some measures to prepare for them. These include checking the weather forecast regularly, staying away from the shore during storms, moving vehicles and valuables to higher ground, and having an emergency plan in case of evacuation.
He also said that there is hope that the situation will improve soon. “The SAWS has indicated that the winds will ease and the tides will recede in the next few days. Hopefully, the waves will subside and things will return to normal,” he said.
