C. Town says rumours about hurricane hitting city are a hoax

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management says a message doing the rounds on social media about a hurricane-type storm hitting the city is a hoax.

The South African Weather Office has forecast wind speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour. Hurricanes usually reach wind speeds of 120 kilometres per hour and occur mostly in the western Atlantic and Caribbean.

It’s wet and windy in the Cape today. In the event of flooding or any weather-related emergency, contact the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 107 from a landline or 021 480 7700 from a cellphone. For more information, visit: https://t.co/Qq25cLbkX8 #CTInfo #CTWeather pic.twitter.com/elF8urjE89

— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) June 14, 2018

The weather office has issued a severe weather warning for the next two days, with heavy downpours, rough seas and gale force winds. Disaster Management spokesperson, Charlotte Powell says they have been receiving many calls about the situation.

I’m not sure what’s going to hit Cape Town, I can only hope that disaster management is on standby! @7:45 and it’s this dark and windy ?? pic.twitter.com/BKXVd4PZl6

— lunga mfingwana (@lunxion) June 14, 2018

“The Disaster Management Centre has been inundated with calls regarding a hoax message doing the rounds on social media. The hoax message refers to hurricane winds and quotes the city’s disaster operation number. We appeal to the public to disregard this message and refrain from calling the disaster operations centre,” Powell says.