Joburg EMS urges caution as heavy rain leaves roads wet and slippery
Johannesburg EMS says disaster teams and its water-rescue unit are on high alert as heavy rain creates slippery roads and a risk of flooding.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services has urged motorists to slow down and exercise caution as heavy rain leaves roads wet and slippery across the city.
The warning follows an Orange Level 5 severe-thunderstorm alert for Gauteng, with strong winds, hail and flooding of roads and settlements among the possible impacts reported by SABC News.
Residents in low-lying areas, including informal settlements, have also been warned not to cross flooded rivers or streams.
EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said disaster-monitoring teams and the city’s water-rescue unit were on high alert and ready to respond to emergencies.
Drivers should increase following distance, use headlights where visibility is poor and avoid water covering a road when its depth or the condition of the surface cannot be established. People should not attempt to walk through fast-moving floodwater.
The alert is materially different from a routine weather forecast because it concerns immediate road and flooding risk in Johannesburg. Conditions can vary sharply between suburbs during thunderstorms.
Residents requiring emergency assistance in Johannesburg should use the city’s official emergency channels. Further warnings should be checked against the South African Weather Service and municipal updates because impact levels and affected areas may change during the day.