South Africa plays victim to comparatively few natural disasters, but when they do strike, they make their presence known. This was the case in Eastern Johannesburg this week, as heavy rains resulted in flash floods.
The floods, which struck on Wednesday, flooded the basement of OR Tambo International Airport subsequently delaying flights, and left many of the city’s motorways also under water. This included the heavily-trafficked N3, N12 and R24 freeways.
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According to News24, at least seven people are also currently missing.
Flash floods hit Johannesburg Wednesday, plunging the city’s motorways into chaos
On Twitter, the hashtag #Floods is trending in South Africa at the time of writing, with #jhbfloods another commonly used hashtag. The same tags can be found on Instagram.
Citizen journalists snapped some truly incredible scenes and stills on Twitter and Instagram that captured the vicious wave of water cascading down the city’s roads.
Guys, these #Floods aren’t a joke man
pic.twitter.com/uiqJQwZ12Q — Muchi4TheKids (@Sipho_Says) November 9, 2016
A photo posted by Nsako Walter Rikhotso (@realmanalive) on
#JoburgFloods A car is shipwrecked in the middle of the #Jukskei as it passes through #Alexandra
A photo posted by Nickolaus Bauer (@nickolausbauer) on
@tWeatherSA N1 south pic.twitter.com/cADIK59mgf
— Siphiwe Hlongwane (@hlongwane100) November 9, 2016
This is bad..#floods #flooding #johannesburg pic.twitter.com/3TmmU6jOxF
— Nkatty
(@iam_missy7) November 9, 2016
#jhbfloods: Yesterday, photo 2 pic.twitter.com/UxsLhf2qqE
— Save South Africa – (@tndaba) November 10, 2016
Inside O.R Tambo International….#floods
I hope people are safe pic.twitter.com/ey77ob18Cx
— Mlb (@MaleboMot) November 9, 2016
A video posted by Roxyrox (@roxyblows) on
#jhbfloods, Yesterday, photo 5 pic.twitter.com/eVTAWXUzLS
— Save South Africa – (@tndaba) November 10, 2016
This incredible shot of the storm over Johannesburg was also posted by the City of Jo’burg’s official Twitter account. The original image was reportedly snapped by DlalaNje.
Joburg today, #Floods^TK pic.twitter.com/lAl1a1rfnX
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) November 9, 2016
Look what we saw out of our window yesterday – #PonteLove #joburgskies #JoburgFloods pic.twitter.com/8e94F9Kjos
— DlalaNje (@DlalaNje) November 10, 2016
Other Twitter users issued their words of comfort to those affected.
Thoughts and prayers goes to everyone who was affected by the #jhbfloods #flashfloods
— Thusi (@thusimphahlele) November 10, 2016
The sad thing about the #jhbfloods is that those who already have nothing, must now rebuild. Thinking of those in the informal settlements.
— Reese Withoutaspoon (@Reesiebabygirl) November 10, 2016
Notably, the last use of #jhbfloods was in 2014, when Krugersdorp received its fair share of rain.
Hoërskool Monument in #Krugersdorp is na wat berig word gesluit weens erge oorstromings. http://t.co/8l4GkXaIau pic.twitter.com/rJLXv58fhM
— Beeld (@Beeld_Nuus) January 31, 2014
Weather site Wunderground suggests that 20mm of rain can be expected on Friday in Johannesburg, with another storm forecast for Saturday afternoon.
