Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN NEWS AGENCY 9 July 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The South African Weather Service has issued a level six warning for disruptive rain and damaging waves, leading to flooding and possible mudslides in Cape Town today. A series of cold fronts are due to hit the Western Cape this week. The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre’s Sonica Lategan says the forecast will likely exacerbate the impacts of the inclement weather experienced to date:

Meanwhile, extreme weather in South Africa, including floods and a rare tornado, is disrupting tourism. Researcher Kaitano Dube found these events, driven by rising global temperatures, have damaged coastal infrastructure and tourist attractions. Dube says coastal areas, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, have been hardest hit, impacting guest houses, hotels, and adventure activities. In addition, inland areas, including the Kruger National Park, face severe droughts and floods, harming tourism infrastructure and economic potential.

# And the Fire Protection Association in Mpumalanga has announced the suspension of all burning permits due to an extensive fire season. The association’s Andre Scheepers says 26 fires have been recorded in plantations, private game farms, and the veld in various areas since Friday. Experts believe that global warming is expected to worsen the situation. Scheepers told the SABC that one-thousand hectares have burned, with nine fires still active in the Lowveld:

Stay tuned for more news………….