Winds devastate Cape
2009-06-23 19:35
Verashni Pillay
Cape Town – Gale-force winds devastating the Cape nearly ran a bulk carrier aground at Blouberg Beach on Tuesday, as the south coast of the country stood in line for a drenching over Wednesday and Thursday.
The Doceriver bulk carrier almost ran aground on Tuesday when it dragged its anchor in rough seas, coming as close as half a mile to shore, Cape Town harbour master Ravi Naicker told News24.
Naicker said that they managed to get the engine started and headed out to sea.
Three other vessels at anchor were told to head out to sea to ride out the storm as the Western Cape braces for rough seas and heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cold, wet, windy
Meanwhile the Western Cape is expected to clear early on Wednesday morning and the intense frontal system causing the wet and windy conditions would move on to the Eastern Cape and Lesotho, said SA Weather Services senior forecaster, Jacqueline Reit.
“Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected over the high-lying areas in the Western and Northern Cape provinces.”
Snowfall was also possible on the mountains of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape, and the system would cause rough seas and “destructive wave heights” between Cape Agulhas and Port Alfred on Wednesday and Thursday.
But an e-mail doing the rounds apparently from someone at the City of Cape Town was false, Reit said.
Reports of 12-16m swells were exaggerated. Reit predicted swells between 7m and 9m.
Continuous rain in Cape Town
The coast could expect relief from Friday as conditions cleared from Cape Agulhas upwards.
The City of Cape Town, while just outside the region worse hit, would still experience “almost continuous rain” on Wednesday.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) warned sea users to exercise extra caution.
"Sea users are encouraged to wear and correctly and securely fasten life-jackets at all times while at sea but don't launch your craft to go to sea unless you absolutely have to,” said Ian Klopper, NSRI helicopter rescue commander.
People were encouraged to save the Sea Rescue Emergency number, specific to their area, on their phones.
To find out Sea Rescue Emergency numbers, call the NSRI Headquarters during office hours at (021) 434-4011.