Flood-hit EC residents warned to prepare for incoming storm
The warning comes as flood-hit communities, particularly in the OR Tambo District, continue to rebuild after heavy rains and flash floods claimed over 100 lives earlier in June.
A member of the Eastern Cape EMS team searches for more bodies on 24 June 2025, following flooding in the province earlier in June. Picture: Jacques Nelles/EWN
MTHATHA - The Eastern Cape provincial government is urging residents to prepare for extremely cold and windy conditions as an intense cold front moves into the province from Thursday.
The warning comes as flood-hit communities, particularly in the OR Tambo District, continue to rebuild after heavy rains and flash floods claimed over 100 lives earlier in June.
Many homes remain destroyed, and dozens of families are still living in temporary shelters.
WATCH: While the official death toll in the Mthatha floods sits at 100, search and rescue teams have recovered the body of a young boy believed to be only 5-years old.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 24, 2025
The toll is expected to rise as operations pause for the day and continue tomorrow. @MongeziKoko pic.twitter.com/LI1zcgoJWk
The South African Weather Service has issued a yellow level 2 warning, with damaging winds, power outages and local infrastructure damage possible inland on Thursday and Friday.
Government said the cold front is expected to strike parts of the Western Cape and Northern Cape on Wednesday before sweeping across the Eastern Cape by the next day.
In flood-hit areas like Mthatha, where homes are still in ruins and debris remains uncleared, the arrival of bitter cold and strong winds has officials deeply concerned.
Residents are advised to stay indoors where possible, avoid travelling unnecessarily and never cross flooded bridges or streams.
The province added that it was working with disaster management teams to respond to any weather-related incidents and farmers have also been advised to keep their livestock sheltered.