(Bloomberg) -- A massive storm lashed Cape Town, SouthAfrica’s second-largest city, and parts of the surrounding WesternCape province on Wednesday, claiming eight lives, downing powerlines and forcing schools and some roads to close.
Four people died in a fire caused by a lightning strike in thenorthern Cape Town suburb of Kraaifontein, while another was killedin the Lavender Hill area when a building collapsed, said James-Brent Styan, aspokesman for the provincial ministry for local government,environmental affairs and development planning. Three people dieddue to fires related to the storm in Rheenendal, outside Knysna,east of Cape Town, he said by phone. The storm is expected to abateby Thursday afternoon, he said.
Strong winds & heavy rains
Wind speeds averaged from 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour to 70kilometers per hour Tuesday night, with gusts of as fast as 100kilometers per hour. Some towns recorded 45 millimeters (1.8inches) of rain.
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