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Floods affect thousands in South Africa

Weekend rains caused floods that blocked roads, provoked landslides and cut off power to areas around Cape Town.

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Flooding in Kalk Bay this week. (AFP/GETTY)

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Source: AAP


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Widespread flooding after heavy rains in South Africa has affected more than 18,000 people.

Weekend rains caused floods that blocked roads, provoked landslides and cut off power to areas around Cape Town, according to city disaster management spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.

"Approximately 18,000 people were affected, an evacuation was initiated and people were sheltered in various halls," Solomons-Johannes was quoted as saying by Sapa news agency.

"Engineering crews cleared up many of the areas where these incidents occurred and will, during the course of tomorrow (Sunday), proceed with recovery work."

Police said at least one woman died and another was missing after floods swept their car off a bridge near Stellenbosch, 40 kilometres east from Cape Town.

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"The ladies were on their way to church when the heavy waters swayed their car into the river," police spokesman Thembinkosi Kinana said.

The woman's body was found on Saturday.

Meanwhile, rescue workers had to evacuate 129 patients from a clinic in Somerset West late on Friday night after a river broke its banks and flooded the facility 44 kilometres from Cape Town, according to provincial disaster management spokeswoman Charlotte Powell.


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