Cape Town storms, floods displace thousands, emergency response underway

South Africa’s Cape Town and its surrounding areas have been devastated by severe storms and flooding. Over the past week, extreme weather conditions have displaced at least 4,500 people from their homes and inflicted damage on more than 15,000 structures, as reported by ABC News. (Reuters photo)

Cape Town, which is situated on the southwest tip of Africa, frequently experiences cold fronts from the Atlantic Ocean during its winter months in the middle of the year. (AP photo)

The latest storm has ripped off electricity poles and damaged houses. (Reuters photo)

The impact has been especially harsh in informal settlements on the outskirts of Cape Town, where makeshift dwellings are vulnerable to severe weather. (Reuters photo)

The provincial government is also contemplating releasing water from dams as a precautionary measure to mitigate further flooding. (Reuters photo)

"The situation remains critical," stated JP Smith, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security. "Thousands have been displaced, and our focus is on providing shelter, food, and blankets to those affected." (Reuters photo)

Emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely as the bad weather is expected to persist through the coming days. (Reuters photo)