Bad weather early warnings 'step in right direction'

More has to be done to warn the public ahead of severe and extreme weather, say experts.

- Marizka Coetzer

The National Disaster Management Centre's Dechlan Pillay said the early warnings for all initiative was a step in the right direction.

"We have seen a larger scale impact on communities especially in South Africa and among vulnerable communities," he said.

Pillay said the problems usually arise from mitigation at the local level, the response and actions needed that are associated with hazards.

The South African Weather Service's (Saws) Oupa Segalwe said the early warnings for all initiative was a two-year-old programme originated from the UN that wants to ensure everyone on earth is protected from hazardous weather, water and climate events by 2027.