An unusually large south Atlantic storm struck the southern coast of South Africa on 7 June 2017 with wind speeds as high as 120 km/h.[1] Wave heights of 9–12 metres were recorded between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas.[2] The storm directly caused eight deaths and damaged 135 schools across the Western Cape. Around 800 homes were flooded across the city of Cape Town due to the storm.[3]
 Satellite imagery showing the storm front as it hit the Western Cape from before the storm hit on 5 June to the day the storm made landfall on the 7th to the day after on 8 June. The small red dots between Knysna and Port Elizabeth represent fires and thermal anomalies that spread in the wake of the storm. | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone, Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 2017 |
| Highest gust | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Fatalities | 8 (storm) 7 (Knysna fires) 15 total deaths |
| Areas affected | Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape |
Despite dropping up to 50 mm of rain the storm did not break the Cape Town water crisis affecting the region.[4]
Knysna fires
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High winds of 50 km/h caused by the storm fueled around 20 to 30 significant fires that swept through the town of Knysna and surrounding areas in the days after the storm.[5] The fires killed seven people[6] and displaced around 10,000[7][8] with around 600 structures in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay being destroyed.[6]
The fires were notable for involving the largest deployment of firefighters in South Africa to that date. A total of 985 firefighters along with 78 vehicles, ten helicopters, and two fixed winged aircraft were used in combating the fire between 6 June and 10 June 2017.[6] It is estimated that the fires caused between R4 billion and R5 billion (around US$297 million to US$372 million) in damages to private property with an additional R136 million worth of damage done to public infrastructure.[6]
Unofficial preliminary conjecture suggested that some of the fires might have been lit by arsonists.[9]
However, it was later found that the fires started as a result of lightning. Forensic scientist Dr David Klatzow ruled out arson as the cause of the Knysna fires which killed seven people and left many homeless.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "8 deaths in Cape storm". vocfm.co.za. Cape Town: VOCFM radio. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Live charts show awesome power of Cape storm". Techcentral.co.za. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Cape storm damages 135 schools across Western Cape". citizen.co.za. The Citizen. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Cape storm isn't a quick fix for drought, warns City of Cape Town". News24. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ Koyana, Xolani (7 June 2017). "STORM WINDS FAN KNYSNA FIRE, RESIDENTS EVACUATED". EWN. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d de Villiers, James (20 June 2017). "Knysna fire led to largest deployment of firefighting resources in SA history - authorities". News24. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ NDLOVU, RAY (8 June 2017). "Insurers expect claims to rise on Cape storm and fires". Business Day. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ de Villiers, James (11 June 2017). "#KnysnaFire: death toll rises". News24. Archived from the original on 8 January 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ CHILD, KATHARINE. "Are Knysna fires the result of arson? expert". www.timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ QUKULA, QAMA. "Knysna fires sparked by lightning strike not arson, finds expert". www.capetalk.co.za. Retrieved 21 June 2019.