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Extreme weather conditions in the Eastern Cape have prompted a warning of potential power outages from Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity supplier.
Eskom has advised residents and customers to exercise patience during this period, also urging them to treat all electrical appliances as live to ensure safety.
The power utility acknowledged the possible interruption of electricity supply on Monday, attributing it to the harsh weather affecting the region.
Eskom said extreme weather conditions and challenging road terrains might extend the electricity supply restoration time in some areas.
“The severity of the current weather conditions may delay the restoration of electricity,” stated Eskom in a recent announcement.
However, they assured that their technicians are working diligently to resolve any issues and restore power as swiftly as possible.
Rebuilding efforts in Port St Johns, severely impacted by the March floods, are progressing slowly.
The Mthumbane region, near Port St Johns, experienced significant road damage due to torrential rains, floods, and a mudslide.
The R61 Route collapsed 25 kilometers from Port St Johns, displacing thousands of residents.
“Houses were washed away, trees uprooted, the town hall is flooded, businesses, shops and the museum too,” described Cooperative Governance spokesperson Pheello Oliphant about the aftermath of the floods.
With significant disruptions to critical infrastructure, including access to water, electricity and hospitals, the government declared a state of disaster in response.
Meanwhile, the South Africa Weather Service (Saws) issued an orange level 6 warning for the extreme southeastern parts of the Eastern Cape, alerting residents of potential rain-related disruptions and flooding in settlements.
The alert also highlights the possibility of livelihood disruptions and flooding of low-lying roads and bridges.
Additionally, a yellow level 4 warning has been issued for other parts of the Eastern Cape, indicating potential rain disruptions and flooding.
Light snowfall is anticipated along the Sneeuberg mountain range in the province’s western region and in the southern parts of the Drakensberg.
Coastal temperatures are expected to drop with widespread thundershowers predicted east of Gqeberha amidst cloudy weather conditions.
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