EXPLAINER | The equinoctial spring tide will happen again, and will likely bring more destruction

This weekend's storm surge left damage and devastation in its wake, and it will continue to happen more frequently, impacting severely on humans and infrastructure if no action is taken.  

At least one person died, and dozens of others were injured when coastal flooding occurred over the weekend in various parts of the Eastern and Western Cape. Infrastructure damage estimated to be millions of rand was also incurred, with cleanup operations and damage assessments, including of restaurants that were wiped away, ongoing.

Waves as high as 9.5 metres (taller than a three-storey building) battered the coast, as winds of 100km/h were recorded offshore.