[Image: SABC]
A ferocious storm tore through Augrabies in the Northern Cape on February 4, unleashing chaos with violent winds, thick dust clouds, and torrential rain that left the town battered and broken.
Homes were shredded, public buildings crumbled, and vital infrastructure lay in ruins. Many residents found themselves stranded without shelter, desperately seeking safety amidst the aftermath.
The SABC reported that at least one person died, with police saying the man was trying to find shelter against the storm under a tree when the tree was uprooted and fell on him.
This devastation followed a severe weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), cautioning that parts of the country should brace for thunderstorms, hail, and heavy downpours.
“A Yellow Level 2 warning for thunderstorms resulting in hail, heavy rains and strong damaging winds is issued for the southern parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga, the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, eastern Free State as well as the central and western parts of North West,” Saws said.
The bizarre part is that temperatures in Augrabies that day had soared to a blistering 39°C, according to AccuWeather. But by evening, the weather turned savage.
Eyewitness accounts described the storm as something straight out of a disaster movie. Some social media users speculated that it may have even been a cyclone.
One Facebook post captured the shock and disbelief: “Absolute chaos in various parts of Augrabies.” Images and videos flooded timelines, showing homes stripped of their roofs, buildings severely damaged, and debris strewn across streets.
A #storm that swept through the Augrabies area in the Northern Cape has claimed the life of one person and have caused extensive damages. Police say the man was seeking shelter from the storm under a tree when the tree was uprooted and fell on him. #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/EgnrhDIoTt
— Ulrich Hendriks (@UlrichHendriks) February 5, 2025
Local resident Donovan Montgomery shared a grim account of the storm’s wrath, reporting that the severe winds and downpour had left many homes uninhabitable.
Community members rallied online, calling for urgent assistance. “Let’s support our fellow community members affected by the storm and assist with any help needed,” urged a post from the Augrabies Community Facebook Group.
So far there has only been one casualty reported but the true extent of the damage remains uncertain. Relief efforts are expected to mobilise in the coming days as the community works to recover from this harrowing event.
[Source: IOL]
