Eastern Cape floods overnight have reportedly claimed the lives of 7 people. At the same time, emergency service members from Nelson Mandela Bay say they’ve been involved in over 60 rescues.
Eastern Cape Floods
Heavy rain pelted parts of Kariega, north of Gqeberha yesterday, leaving some homes flooded. Several vehicles were washed away. Many roads that are underwater have been closed.
Labinon says, “At the Port of Port Elizabeth – NSRI Gqeberha, in cooperation with TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of Port Elizabeth Port Control – are assessing reports of vessels breaking their moorings.”
Multiple rescue operations saw people recovered safely from buildings, residences and vehicles.
READ MORE: Rescue Operations Underway at Kariega, Gqeberha, East London
The Kariega Fire Station has also been flooded.
Heavy rain pelted parts of Kariega
According to the National Sea Rescue Institute, resources were activated last night at around 22h45, as the heavy rain was coming down.
Spokesperson Craig Lambinon says the NSRI had several rescue crafts as well as rescuers assisting the police and other organizations, in ongoing search and rescue operations.
He added, “At East London, NSRI East London, in cooperation with the TNPA Port of East London Port Control, are assisting on the Buffalo River, at Jetties sunken or washed away and boats/vessels breaking moorings.”
According to the NSRI’s records, 4 females remain missing and an adult male and a believed-to-be baby girl are deceased at various scenes in Kariega.
East-Londen weather-related flooding
In one incident at around 3 am, a SMHART security officer had reported a vehicle with 6 people trapped in the flooded Brak River, in Rocklands.
A male was recovered safely from an island, that had formed in the river, while an adult female was swept away and is still missing. The remaining 4 people were recovered safely on the Southern side of the river.
The contingent that was deployed to assist in the flooding:
SA Police Services
Police divers
NSRI station 6 Gqeberha
Police K9 Search and Rescue
Fire and Rescue Services
Relay ambulance services
NSRI station 36 Oyster Bay
Coastal Water Rescue
EC Government Health EMS
NSRI station 37 Jeffreys BayLocal security companies and
Community together with NMBMM (Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality).
READ MORE: R500 million to fix WC roads after floods
Kariega is the town formerly known as Uitenhage. The NSRI says search and rescue operations are continuing this morning.
