At least eight killed, thousands displaced by storms in South Africa

In South Africa, at least eight people have been killed after massive storms hit Cape Town after months of drought, South African authorities said Wednesday.

Among the dead is a family of four who were killed in a fire sparked by lightning.

Thousands of people have been left homeless by heavy rains and flooding. Stormy weather has gripped various parts of the Western Cape since Tuesday night. The South African Weather Service has warned that the storms will continue throughout the next few days.

Emergency services are on high alert and members of the defence force are on standby.

Schools and universities have shut, roofs were blown off and shelters have been opened for those left destitute.

Onele Ndesi from Western Cape Disaster Management predicts that “the worst is yet to come”.

(CGTN)