CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Nearly 1,000 homes in informal settlements in Cape Town, South Africa, have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people, authorities and an aid organization said as the city braces for a week of damaging storms.
South African weather authorities said Monday that Cape Town and surrounding areas are expected to be hit by multiple cold fronts until at least Friday, bringing torrential rain, strong winds, flooding and possible mudslides. City authorities also warned of storm surges and high waves along the coastline and asked people to stay away from the beachfront.
Cape Town's disaster coordination team has been on alert since last Thursday, when the first front arrived.
The worst-hit areas are expected to be the poor, informal settlements on the edge of South Africa's second biggest city.
Thousands have been displaced in the township of Khayelitsha on the outskirts of Cape Town after strong winds destroyed homes and other structures. The Gift of the Givers local aid organization said it provided 10,000 meals and 3,000 blankets to displaced people in Khayelitsha over the weekend.
“The city is doing all it can to address the impacts as quickly as possible,” the City of Cape Town said.
Other areas have been flooded and the weather has caused power outages in more than 30 suburbs, the city said. It said it is monitoring dam levels to ensure they don't overflow and would consider a controlled release of some water with more heavy rain expected this week.
Cape Town, on the southwest tip of Africa, is often hit by cold fronts coming in from the Atlantic Ocean during its winter months in the middle of the year. They are especially damaging for informal settlements.
AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
Waves break over Sea Point's promenade in Cape Town, South Africa, Monday, July 8, 2024. City authorities say nearly 1,000 homes in informal settlements around the city have been destroyed by gale-force winds, displacing around 4,000 people with multiple cold fronts expected until at least Friday. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
SHANGHAI (AP) — Top-ranked Jannik Sinner overcame a one set deficit to rally to a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win against Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.
A night after winning his 250th career match with a straight-sets victory, the 23-year-old Italian faced a much sterner third-round examination against the No. 37-ranked Argentine under the roof inside Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena that hosted play due to rain.
Sinner will next play either No. 16-ranked Ben Shelton, who beat the Italian here last year, or Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain.
Etcheverry produced the shot of the night with a stunning drop volley to bring up set point in the first set tiebreak, which he converted to take the lead.
Sinner began to better find his range in the second and after trading breaks midway through the set, the Italian found another opportunity to level the match.
The momentum was all with Sinner in the third as he broke Etcheverry twice more to advance in 2 hours, 39 minutes.
Fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev also came from behind for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Matteo Arnaldi to book his fourth-round berth against either 12th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller.
The 28-year-old Medvedev was forced to dig deep to level the match after the Italian took a tight first set.
In the deciding set, Medvedev's experience and composure came to the fore as he clinched a vital break in the ninth game and held firm to close out the match in 2 hours, 44 minutes.
Second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the China Open on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, plays his third round match against Chinese player, Wu Yibing.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina returns a forehand shot to Jannik Sinner of Italy during the men's singles match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina returns a backhand shot to Jannik Sinner of Italy during the men's singles match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Jannik Sinner of Italy, right, is congratulated by Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina after winning in the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Jannik Sinner of Italy returns a forehand shot to Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina during the men's singles match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Jannik Sinner of Italy wipes his sweat during a set break in the men's singles match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during the men's singles match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
