Strong winds wreaks havoc – trees uprooted across Cape Town

Yesterday the gale force winds that were experienced in Cape Town wreaked havoc.

GARDENS: The winds have blown down trees at the Mount Nelson Hotel, Orange Street in Gardens.

BERGVLIET: A tree had fallen resulting in the obstruction of traffic adjacent to 13 Fountain Road, Bergvliet.

OTTERY: A tree was blown down touching on overhead electricity wires resulting in arching at 1 Wegner Avenue, Ottery.

CONSTANTIA: The wind blown down branches and a tree onto the roadway causing traffic congestion at 1 Dreyer Close, Constantia.

CONSTANTIA: A tree standing on the greenbelt has fallen over that resulted in damaging a boundary wall and an electric fence. The City of Cape Town will be clearing the area today as the owner was not present to gain access to the premises.

TOKAI: A tree fell over obstructing the roadway near 47 Zwaanswyk Road, Tokai.

The City’s law enforcement authorities closed off the roadways and redirected traffic to make use of alternative routes in the interest of public safety.

The standby teams of the City’s Parks Department were activated that cleared up the branches blown down and trees that were fallen.

In another incident a wendy house collapsed due to strong winds at St Yusuf Street Macassar yesterday afternoon. The City’s disaster response teams assisted the family consisting of 3 adults and 1 child with food parcels, clothing, blankets and building material.

End

Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects & Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Oudtshoorn: Storm rig skade aan, slaan krag af

OUDTSHOORN NUUS - 'n Hewige donderstorm met swaar reën en gepaardgaande sterk wind het Dinsdagaand boomtakke afgeruk en 'n paar KKNK-tente platgevee.

Die storm het dele van Oudtshoorn vir etlike ure sonder krag gelaat.

Plase in die Rooiheuwel-omgewing was Woensdagoggend teen 07:00 steeds sonder krag. Weerlig het twee palmbome in Steynstraat aan die brand geslaan terwyl lede van 'n produksiespan by die Johnny Biskit-saal moes bontstaan om te keer dat hulle toerusting beskadig word.

Die swaar reën wat slegs 'n paar minute geduur het, het water deur die saal laat stroom.

By die Rivierbuurt waar uitstaltente reeds opgeslaan is het die wind van die tente platgewaai, maar sover vasgestel kon word is geen ernstige skade aangerig nie.

- Oudtshoorn Courant

Freak storm wreaks havoc in the Eastern Cape (10 February 2012)

WHERE’S MY ROOF: Mlungisi Dama of Dowu village inside his spaza shop where a roof was also blown off by strong winds. STEPHANIE LLOYD

A SERIES of 20 storm cells merged to form five large storms which generated destructive gusts of wind and heavy rain on Sunday evening.

Residents throughout a large area of the Eastern Cape were shocked at the severity of the gust fronts and accompanying deluges.

This story of the storms, which smashed into an area taking in both metros, and reaching inland as far as Cradock and Butterworth, was told by two weather and two disaster management experts.

Eastern Cape SA Weather Service spokesman Garth Sampson said although these summer storms were “normal” and not part of climate change, they were characterised by destructive gust fronts.

He explained that parcels of air formed up in the very top of the thunderheads or anvils, and then “dived” from heights of 1.4km and burst out the front of the storm.
Gust front downdrafts have tossed two park homes into the air, and were responsible for most of the damage.

A gust front travelling at up to 180km/h will gouge the earth in a straight, narrow line between 100m to a kilometre wide, and move at ground level for a short distance, probably only lasting a minute.

Such fronts are capable of opening up a home “like a can of sardines,” said Sampson.
Kaysers Beach mom Margaret Green said their evening of DStv viewing turned to DVD watching as the power went out.

“Suddenly there was a huge crash,” she said, as two heavy asbestos roof sheets disappeared into the sky and rain sluiced through the 1.5m x 3m-hole, drenching carpets in three bedrooms and causing all the top floor ceiling boards to sag.

HOMELESS: Mzwandile Tywaleni of Dowu village in Chalumna showing Daily Dispatch reporters his house that was destroyed by the strong winds and rain on Sunday. Picture: STEPHANIE LLOYD

Sampson said February was perfect for storms like these, of which the metros received about three a month during a season stretching between September and March.
“You have the heat, you have the easterly flow [ of moist sea air] . You have energy and petrol. What more do you need?”

In the Buffalo City Metro, residents keyed up to watch the Afcon cup final on telly instead found themselves shunting furniture around, holding towels to the ceiling or soaking up water with mops.

Shortly before the kick-off, lightning crashed hitting trees and dropping branches, and a deluge of 34.2mm of rain caused gutters to collapse and sent water through roofs.

However, Buffalo City Metro disaster manager Owen Becker said the city’s services were able to cope with minor flooding, outages and other damage.
The Daily Dispatch learned from a local weather expert that the East London temperature plunged from 30 degrees to 19 degrees after the storm broke, while the humidity level went from 62.6% to 92%.

DESTROYED: Welekazi Makeleni seen outside her house in Sandile village after a roof was ripped off by strong winds on Sunday night Pictures: STEPHANIE LLOYD

The wind direction swung from a 35km northerly wind to a 55km south-westerly, with gusts of up to 200km observed near Greenfields.

Visibility for aircraft was reduced to a minimal 1110m as the cloud cover switched from a mid- level altocumulus to ground-level stratocumulus.

Eastern Cape disaster management spokesman John Fobian said both metros experienced flash flooding, and there were reports of power outages in Alice, settlements in the Great Fish river basin, Cradock and along the Sunshine Coast.

- Daily Dispatch


SAWDOS: Well done Garth Sampson and the Daily Dispatch!! A great analysis by Garth of the severe storms that struck the Eastern Cape this past weekend. Your years of experience is clearly noticeable. Thanks Daily Dispatch.  This is the type of educational information that the public wants to read and know. Keep up the good work!!

180km/h wind with fierce rain torments Eastern Cape (10 February 2013)

COLLAPSED: Nomatshawe Ndleleni of Sandile Village in Chalumna standing in front of her uncle’s tavern yesterday. A strong wind accompanied by rain ripped through the house. Luckily no one was injured. Picture: STEPHANIE LLOYD

DRIVING winds and pouring rain caused widespread damage across parts of the Eastern Cape on Sunday night as a fierce storm lashed homes causing damage amounting to hundreds of thousands of rands.
Two areas that were hit badly included Chalumna and Christmas Rock, and some areas in Peddie recorded storm gusts of up to 180km/h.
Close to a hundred houses in the Chalumna area were badly damaged and one man was seriously injured after a park home collapsed on top of him as he was trying to escape.
The storm, which lasted less than an hour, left residents shocked. Patrons at a tavern belonging to businessman Phindile Ndleleni of Sandile village had a narrow escape when an almost 40m tall tree crashed down on it.

“This storm was fast and left damage that I estimate to be in region of R200000 in my place,” said Ndleleni.
Ndleleni’s niece, Nomatshawe Ndleleni, was inside at the time. She said she had heard a big bang before the ceiling collapsed on her.

“It was scary. I was in the storeroom and there were people drinking in the main hall. Luckily for us no one was injured. How we escaped I don’t know. The ceiling came crashing down.”
In New Rest village, an employee of the provincial department of public works was seriously injured and his friend, Loyiso Mahanjana had minor injuries when their park homes were blown away by the fierce winds.

Mahanjana was asleep. He said he saw his house “up in the air” before he lost consciousness.
“I was gone. After that I don’t know how the house landed on the ground. It was a freak storm,” he said.
Mahanjana and his friend were rescued by the owner of a security company and rushed to Frere Hospital. “If it was not for him, my friend would have died here,” he said.

Houses were damaged in Dowu, Zikhova and Ngqinisa villages.

At Christmas Rock, Roland Harris said this was the fiercest storm they’d had in the area.

- Daily Dispatch

Strong wind experienced in parts of Johannesburg, Midrand and Pretoria last night. (3 February 2013)

The following windgusts were measured last night in parts of Gauteng.

Windgusts: Rooihuiskraal = 72.4; Fourways = 60.2; Panorama = 73.0; Houghton = 20; Northcliff = 51.8; Kyalami = 62.8; Roodepoort = 54.1 km/h

Up to now no reports of serious damage was received.

Sterk suidooster veroorsaak kragonderbrekings in die Kaapse Skiereiland

19h00 SAST - Die kragtoevoer na Athlone op die Kaapse Skiereiland is herstel nadat sterk winde oor die gebied kraglyne beskadig het. 'n Woordvoerder vir Kaapstad se Rampbestuur, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, sê 'n paar oorhoofse kabels is oornag afgewaai wat tot kragonderbrekings in dele van Athlone gelei het. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Weerkantoor het intussen gewaarsku dat stormsterk winde in die volgende paar dae van tot 40 kilometer per uur tussen Kaappunt en Kaap Agulhas sowel as oor die Skiereiland verwag kan word.

09H00 SAST - 'n Sterk suidooster in die Kaapse Skiereiland het tot talle kragonderbrekings gelei. Veral dele van Athlone op die Kaapse Vlakte word geraak waar kragpale omgewaai het. 'n Woordvoerder vir Kaapstad Rampbestuur, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, sê tegnici is besig om aan die probleem te werk. Die wind wat die naweek opgesteek het, het ook gelei tot die sluiting van die Tafelberg Kabelspoor. 'n Woordvoerder, Sabine Lehman, sê die kabelspoor sal vandag steeds gesluit wees weens onveilige weerstoestande. Die veerboot na Robbeneiland sal egter sy werksaamhede hervat nadat dit gistermiddag weens die sterk wind nie kon vertrek nie.

- RSG Nuus

Photos: Severe Thunderstorm: Pietermartizburg and surrounding areas. (6 January 2013 16h30 SAST)

Jen - @SAWDOS1 sky is dark and green. Massive storm about to hit Pmb. Loads of lightning

ivanker - @PigSpotter @TrafficSA Maritzburg hit by major storm. Downed trees in city centre

ivanker - = @947Highveld @channelislam main pietermaritzburg street closed with downed trees in epic storm

ivanker - @TrafficSA flooding in Church Street, Pietermaritzburg

Tracey Chananie - @SAWDOS1 Still raining in Drummond, thunder every now and then and the pic is looking towards Dbn at Key Ridge

Jen - Picture of the Duzi after the hectic storm this afternoon.

JEN - Storm Damage - Pietermaritzburg.

Tanis - Trees down in Howick Road, PMB

Jen - Duzi weir after storm in Pietermaritzburg.

Ziyaad Warasally - Clouds over Driefontein area as seen from Besters

Francis Proudfoot Lanham - Cloud over Colenso

J van der Westhuizen - @SAWDOS1 Hilton - after storm today

Tarryn Alcock - Happened earlier on during storm, Tornado came up from Albert Falls Dam, pmb. An took my sisters house down with it.

Tanis - @SAWDOS1 more trees down in Howick

Tanis - @SAWDOS1 another tree in Howick road, think there were four down and a fire in Victoria road at substation.

SA Storm Watch - @SAWDOS1 some mild roof damage PMB. Apologies for the quality.

Have you been affected? Send us images of storm damage in your area. Twitter: @SAWDOS1 or email SAWDOS by clicking HERE.

Photos: Gale Force Wind Damage - Port Elizabeth (3 January 2013)

Public Servant News Network Port Elizabeth

 

Damage caused by the wind in Govan Mbeki Ave - The Herald

This taxi's roof was blown off. -  Dinesh Moodaley

- Public Servant News Network, Port Elizabeth

OCCUMEDcc - @SAWdOS #PE Billboard at the airport!

Gale Force Wind cause havoc in and around Port Elizabeth

UBe 360 ‏- Wind damage at Coega Harbour.

SAWDOS received several damage reports from observers in the Port Elizabeth as a result of the gale force south westerly wind that battered the area earlier today.

Roofs blown off in Nelson Mandela Bay - one in Cape Road and one in Govan Mbeki Avenue. The one in Cape Road apparently hit a car. Anybody with further info?

Gwenivere Sims: 12:05
Wind ripped roof on corner of Cape Road and 5th avenue pharmacy Newton park off. Please drive with caution as parts of the zinc roof will cut tyres.

Pauline Wilson: 12:18:
Cape road five ways blocked off by cops - roof of flats blowing off, please be cautious.

Charlotte Upman: 12:24
Big tree branch blew over in Willow road obstructing traffic.

Wesley Bester: 12:27:
Roof collapsed goven mbeki and russel road Trauma Net on scene people got injured.

Emile Hallaby: 12h39 - The wind just started to pick up heavily in Bluewater Bay.

AlgoaFMNews : 12h45 - Gale Force winds in PE causing some damage in various parts of the city, police have confirmed injuries.

Cindy Marx Ferreira: 12:50
Looks like electrical cables lying across Mowbray Rd Newton Park btwn 2nd & 3d Ave. And one pole on fire. Reported to 10111.

Leslie Schultz: 13:00
1st ave and cape rd, electrical pole on fire , stay clear

Zefferasjy @SAWDOS1 @Cora @WenerVenter #Blue Water Bay PE 13:21 VERY strong wind! Keep your eyes down! My skirt is over my head! Ocean a mess!

13h28 - Rory Norton Strong winds persist - a number of commercial and residential buildings have had severe roof damage already. Also reports of fires caused by electricity poles being blown over.

OCCUMEDcc: 13h28 - @SAWDOS1 gale force winds in #PE - very unpleasant!

13h31 - Ruth Elizabeth McNaughton:
Old ice rink's roof sheets flying off in this wind, be careful.

DottieDor @SAWDOS1 PE 2pm Gale force winds Not good for Boating in the Bay. Sunny! No rain about!

Renette Potgieter:
Road sign came of on road from N2 towards Summerstrand/M4 - husband and helpers took it away from road but be aware.

Power failure in Lorraine & Walmer. Updates?

14h39 - Pat Ladell: According to news on the radio, 3 people were injured when the roof in Govan Mbeki blew onto them and the roof in Cape Road is in the Five Ways vicinity. It's definitely gusting more than 76km/h. Our VW Caravelle was rocking from side to side. It's not a gentle breeze, but a strong wind. From our Weather Guru page: OFFICIAL max wind speeds..... 78 gusting 117 kph
Wind was Beaufort Scale category 9 STRONG GALE

Several areas are without power due to damaged power cables. No indication as to when power will be restored.

Sources: SAWDOS Twitter, Public Servant News Network Port Elizabeth, SAWDOS Facebook and AlgoaFm News

SAWDOS Holiday Alert 2012/2013: Very rough seas and strong wind.

Gale force Westerly winds, rain and rough seas with large waves observed between Cape Agulhas and Mossel Bay expected to spread towards East London later.

Mossel Bay: 08h55 Wind increased in strength in the past 5 minutes. 52 km/h gust recorded at 08h57 SAST. Holiday makers advised to take action now if you live in tents in the Western Cape, Southern Cape and Eastern Cape. Secure your tents and take down your cazeebo's. Wind damage a real possibility!

Small boat seafarers stay off the sea and spend the next few days on land. Real stormy weather with rain in areas. Keep safe!

Photos: Storm flattens Midmar Dam Campsite (24 December 2012 )

Image: Storm flattens Midmar Dam campsite

Image: Trees uprooted Midmar Dam campsite

Images: K9 Rescue Pietermaritzburg. via Police Rescue

"Tornado" next to N4 approx. 50Km from Machadadorp (18 December 2012)

We were driving back from Jhb to Nelspruit this afternoon and it was great to this tornado less than 1Km next to N4 (approx. 50Km from  Machadadorp)!   It only lasted about 5 minutes after we first spotted it. - Way to Grow

Weather warning for Cape Town cancelled: City’s disaster response teams continuing repairing infrastructure and assisting households

Gale force winds that persisted since Thursday night caused major damage to properties throughout the Cape Town.

In the morning of Thursday, 29 November 2012 the SA Weather Service issued a weather watch that City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre should be on alert and prepared as a result of gale force south-easterly winds that were forecasted reaching 35 knots or 65 km/h between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas.

The weather watch was upgraded in the morning of Friday, 30 November 2012 to a warning and that the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre should take action and place all disaster response teams on high-alert for the gale force south-easterly winds that was forecasted at 35 knots or 65 km/h between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas for yesterday [Friday] and today [Saturday, 01 December 2012].

Since Thursday night the City’s Electricity Services had to deal with 93 wires that were blown down in Athlone, Bantry Bay, Bergvliet, Bonteheuwel, Brackenfell, Cape Town Central City, Claremont, Crawford, Fish Hoek, Fresnaye, Gardens, Grassy Park, Green Point, Kensington, Kraaifontein, Lansdowne, Llandudno, Mfuleni, Milnerton, Muizenberg, Ndabeni, Oranjezicht, Pinelands, Retreat, Rondebosch, Rugby, Schotschekloof (Bo-Kaap), Sea Point, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Tamboerskloof, Three Anchor Bay, Wetton, Woodstock and in Zandvlei.

The City’s disaster response teams effected emergency repairs to all the electricity infrastructure that were affected and restored the supply to all areas.

The gale force wind conditions also blown several trees down and 132 incidents were recorded for the following areas since Thursday night: Athlone, Bantry Bay, Bellville, Bergvliet, Bloubergrant, Bonteheuwel, Camps Bay, Cape Town City Centre, Claremont, Constantia, Devil’s Peak, Durbanville, Edgemead, Freshnaye, Gardens, Goede Hoop, Goodwood, Gordon’s Bay, Grassy Park, Green Point, Hout Bay, Kalkfontein, Kenilworth, Kraaifontein, Kuils River, Lakeside, Llandudno, Lotus River, Maitland, Mamre, Mfuleni, Mitchell’s Plain Monte Vista, Moule Point, Muizenberg, Newlands, Oranjezicht, Ottery, Parow, Pinelands, Plumstead, Retreat, Rondebosch, Schotschekloof (Bo-Kaap), Sea Point, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset-West, Stellenberg, Strand, Tamboerskloof, Woodstock and in Wynberg.

The City’s disaster response teams continued to clean up the debris where trees were blown down and made areas safe since Thursday night.

The following damages have been reported in the respective areas:

SEA POINT: In the evening of Thursday, 29 November 2012 gusting wind conditions along the Atlantic seaboard resulted in the roof sheeting of several buildings been blown off. The airborne debris has caused substantial damages to seven (7) motor vehicles and adjacent properties.

BO-KAAP: In the Bo-Kaap, the roof of a house in Longmarket Street blew off and debris landed in a cemetery in the vicinity in the evening of Thursday, 29 November 2012.

STRAND: At 14:35 on Friday, 30 November 2012 the gusting winds blown down 5 structures situated on Vlakte Plaas Informal Settlement, off Broadlands Road, near Strand.

STRAND: At 18:30 Friday, 30 November 2012 roof sheeting were blown off a structure as a result of gale force wind conditions at 20341 Konyini Street, Nomzamo in Strand.

MACASSAR: It was reported at 16:58 on Friday, 30 November 2012 that the roof of an informal structure at 63 Japonica Way, Macassar was damaged as a result of gusting wind conditions.

SOMERSET WEST: At 08:45 on Saturday, 01 December 2012 the roof of a backyard dwelling were blown off at 3 Rose Street, Garden Village in Somerset West.

SIR LOWRY’S PASS: During the early hours of this morning a tree fell on a roof of an informal structure that was situated at 619 Van Aarde Street, Sun City Informal Settlement, in Sir Lowry’s Pass. The occupants fortunately evacuated out of the structure before the tree has fallen.

SIR LOWRY’S PASS: At approximately midday on Saturday, 01 December 2012 the gusting wind conditions blown down an informal structure at SP471 Uitkyk Informal Settlement in Sir Lowry’s Pass.

SIR LOWRY’S PASS: A tree collapsed on a roof on an informal structure at situated at 705 Mandela Drive, Sun City Informal Settlement, in Sir Lowry’s Pass around midday on Saturday, 01 December 2012.

No deaths or injuries had been reported by the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre.

The disaster response teams assisted the affected household that is indigent that called upon the City of Cape Town for assistance to remove trees and for the provision of social relief aid.

This morning [Saturday, 01 December 2012] the SA Weather Service downgraded the weather warning and subsequently issued a forecast for cloudy conditions with showers and thunder-showers expected for the Cape Peninsula.

This afternoon the weather warning was cancelled as there was a significant improvement in the weather system.

The Cape Peninsula can experience for the next few days cloud on the mountains, with partly cloudy conditions and in some places there will be clear skies.

The South African Weather Service will keep the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre informed regarding weather conditions, and further advice will be made available if and when required.

Residents are reminded to use the 107 number in the event of an emergency so that the nearest relevant emergency service provider can be dispatched. Dial 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. The sooner you phone, the sooner help will arrive.

The reports of damage to infrastructure, trees blown down or service disruptions can be reported to the City’s Customer Contact Centre at 0860 103 089. Enquiries and/or complaints can also be sent via SMS to 31373. Enquiries and/or complaints regarding electricity fault reporting can be sent via SMS to 31220.

The City’s Transport Information Centre can be contacted on 0800 65 64 63 regarding delays on roadways and deviations.

For further information and precautionary measures to prevent wind damage visit the website of the Disaster Risk Management Centre on www.capetown.gov.za/disaster.

End



* Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town

Extreme Weather in Portugal on Friday, 16 November, 2012 at 17:37 (05:37 PM) UTC.

The National Authority for Civil Protection (ANPC) confirm the occurrence of two phenomena very strong winds, but can not yet characterize these phenomena, which have caused dozens of wounded, some of them severe. The ANPC explained to CM Journal that between 13h00 and 13h30 on Friday strong winds ravaged Silves and Lagoa causing dozens of wounded, some in critical condition. The damages are huge in dozens of vehicles, registering falling trees, shingles flew, fallen walls and damages inside homes. The wind afected a campers field in Silves, near the municipal swimming pools. Some of the caravans had affected people inside who were injured. The coverage of countertops Football Stadium of Silves flew with the wind strength. In Lagoa in several buildings housing the wind broke the windows and destroyed the interior of the houses. Through the streets sees overturned cars, fallen trees, roofs raised, in a scene of destruction. Authorities are still on the ground, to take stock of possible destruction, and therefore not yet possible to come up with a concrete number of injured and the severity of these injuries.

- RSOE EDIS

Witnesses tell of Cape concert tragedy

Cape Town - Linkin Park concert-goers have recounted the moments before and after tragedy struck at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

A woman attending the concert died of her injuries after temporary scaffolding collapsed in high winds outside the venue. At least 20 people were injured.

The 33-year-old woman worked at a city hotel. She died in Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in the city.

She has not been formally identified as her parents have not yet been informed of her death.

The woman’s husband, who was with her on Wednesday night, said he was considering legal action.

The concert-goers were hurt when two Lucozade-branded towers fell during strong south-easterly winds.

Sources said all stadium events had exhaustive safety plans and the emergency was immediately co-ordinated by the Venue Operations Centre.

Ambulances from the province’s emergency medical services and private ambulance companies ferried the injured to hospital.

On the scene on Wednesday night Nicole Barlow told the Cape Argus she had been standing between the two sponsored towers that fell on the south side of the stadium.

She and Ashley Barlow had been handing out samples of the energy drink earlier in the day. The women said gazebos had been erected too, but they had been packed away because of the wind.

This morning Barlow wrote on Facebook: “Still can’t believe what happened. Knowing that you were 5cm away from possibly being killed is crazy. Hope everyone and especially the Lucozade girls and the fans who got injured so badly and are currently in critical condition have the strength to fight it through, and to the family of the fan who passed away you have my deepest condolences, R.I.P.”

Meanwhile, concertgoer and nurse, Justine Butler told EWN how she tried to help comfort the woman who eventually died.

“She was probably the first person that I came up to. She was right in front of me in the ground and she had serious injuries.”

According to EWN, Western Cape Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said several people are still being treated in hospital.

“They sustained fractures to their hands, legs and spine. The doctors will later today decide how long they will be kept in hospital.”

Event organiser Big Concerts said as the incident was outside the stadium, it fell under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town.

The city said in a statement on Thursday night that the structure had been pre-approved and certified safe by structural engineers prior to the event.

After their performance on Wednesday night Linkin Park posted a message of condolence on their blog, saying: “We wish to express our deep sadness and concern for those injured and our heartfelt condolences to the family of the fan who died as a result of her injuries.”

The concert went ahead despite the incident.

Cape Argus, IOL

Ad tower was deemed safe, City says

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town said on Wednesday that a branding tower that collapsed outside the Cape Town Stadium ahead of the Linkin Park concert had been certified as safe.

Outside the stadium, the tower was blown over by a strong gust of wind just before 19:00, falling on people below, injuring 20.

The City said that the tower had been "pre-approved and certified safe, by structural engineers prior to the event".

But according to a spokesperson at the Cape Town International Airport weather office, near-gale wind speeds topping 50km/h were registered in the City Bowl.

The City said that emergency personnel - including doctors, paramedics and disaster risk management - responded to the incident immediately, and he injured were treated on scene and taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.

Two people had sustained serious injuries, ER24 paramedics said in a statement.

Reports said the majority of the injured were women doing promotional work.

The site where the incident occurred was declared safe not long after the remainder of the structure was dismantled, according to the City.

The concert went ahead as scheduled, however, and no announcements of the incident were made inside the stadium.

- NEWS24

Fan dies in Linkin Park concert crash

Cape Town - A fan attending the Cape Town leg of a worldwide tour by the US rock band Linkin Park has died.

The woman, whom authorities have yet to identify, was caught under a banner advert for Lucozade, when gale force winds caused the structure to collapse.

Twenty people in total where injured, some sustaining bone fractures, according to officials who were at the scene.

After the concert, Linkin Park released a statement expressing their condolences to the family of the deceased and the fans who had been hurt.

Spokeswoman Kymm Britton said in a statement: “Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy.”

Big Concerts, one of the organisers who brought Linkin Park to South Africa for the group's Living Things world tour, also released a statement expressing their sympathies for the victims.

Dionne Domyan, spokeswoman for the promoter said: “We would like to thank the City of Cape Town, the South African Police Services, and all the medics, doctors, and disaster risk personnel for their swift and professional response to this accident.”

Meanwhile, on Big Concerts' official Facebook page where the statement regarding the structure collapse also appeared, fans reacted emotionally, some calling for legal action by the family of the fan who died against the company responsible for erecting the advertising structure despite warnings of gale force winds.

A comment by Jason Ross NaIdoo read: “They should [have] looked at a weather report and reassessed if the structure was really necessary and most of all safe to have around! I think the family of the deceased should board this run away train class action law suit straight into who ever is responsible for passing that advertising tower… “

Another fan commenting on the same post criticised Linkin Park for allegedly not making reference to the incident during their performance. Larry Shane September wrote: “I think its pretty pathetic that no one had the decency to at least make an announcement during the show. I'm not impressed big concerts. This is such a tragedy on a really great concert and band. Please do right by the family of the deceased.”

Big Concerts did not immediately respond to an e-mail from IOL asking if an investigation into the incident that would clarify if safety rules had been flouted during the installation of the advertising structure, would be conducted.

Linkin Park's sold-out Johannesburg concert would continue on Saturday, the band confirmed.

-IOL

Second Update on scaffolding collapse at Linkin Park concert at Cape Town Stadium

Family and Friends of the 20 concert goers who were injured earlier this evening should please contact Metro EMS on 021 931 9027.

The City of Cape Town and Big Concerts confirm that twenty concert attendees were injured at the Cape Town Stadium this evening when a temporary scaffolding structure in the Stadium precinct collapsed due to high winds.

The City’s Emergency Services, including doctors, paramedics and Disaster Risk Management staff assisted immediately. The injured were treated on scene and have been taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.

The incident occurred at approximately 18h55 when high wind speeds caused the collapse of a temporary scaffolding structure. The temporary structure was a branding activation, located adjacent to the Stadium forecourt on the Cape Town CBD side of the venue.

The structure had been pre-approved and certified safe, by structural engineers prior to the event.

The remainder of the structure was dismantled and the commanding officer at the Venue Operations Centre declared the event site safe shortly afterwards.

The Stadium gates were re-opened to concert attendees. The concert is going ahead as planned.

All necessary support is being provided to those injured.


End

Source:

Wilfred Schrevian Evan Solomons-Johannes
Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects
Acting Head: Disaster Operations Centre

Photo showing the collapsed scaffolding - LinkinPark Concert, Cape Town

Rob Byrne ‏@TrafficSA report: Cape Town - #LinkinPark advertising scaffolding collapse, latest pic via @ER24EMS (20 injured, 5 serious)

Update on scaffolding collapse at Linkin Park concert at Cape Town Stadium

The City of Cape Town and Big Concerts confirm that twenty concert attendees were injured at the Cape Town Stadium this evening when a temporary scaffolding structure in the Stadium precinct collapsed due to high winds.

The City’s Emergency Services, including doctors, paramedics and Disaster Risk Management staff assisted immediately. The injured were treated on scene and have been taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.

The incident occurred at approximately 18h55 when high wind speeds caused the collapse of a temporary scaffolding structure. The temporary structure was a branding activation, located adjacent to the Stadium forecourt on the Cape Town CBD side of the venue.

The structure had been pre-approved and certified safe, by structural engineers prior to the event.

The remainder of the structure was dismantled and the commanding officer at the Venue Operations Centre declared the event site safe shortly afterwards.

The Stadium gates were re-opened to concert attendees. The concert is going ahead as planned.

All necessary support is being provided to those injured.

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Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes

Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects

Acting Head: Disaster Operations Centre