Kariega (former Uitenhage) – A man and a baby girl have died, while four females remain missing after floods in Kariega, Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.
Following heavy rains on Saturday that resulted in floods, multiple rescue operations were carried out and stranded persons were safely evacuated from buildings, residences, and cars.
“At least 70 persons have been safely removed to various mustering points in 55 rescue operations,” NSRI said in a statement on Sunday.
In one incident at around 03:00 a security officer alerted rescuers about a car trapped in the flooded Brak River, Rocklands. The six people in the partially submerged car tried to get to safety.
A man was, subsequently, rescued from “an island” in the middle of the river. However, a woman was swept away and is missing.
The other four people from the car were rescued on the southern side of the river.
The Fire Station at Kariega has been flooded.
NSRI and Coastal Water Rescue have multiple rescuers in wet suits on the scene assisting police divers, police K9 search and rescue, NMBMM, the emergency services in operation.
Fire and Rescue Services, Relay Ambulance Services, NSRI stations 6 Gqeberha, Coastal Water Rescue, EC Government Health EMS, local security companies, and the community were also assisting with rescue efforts.
NSRI said it has three JetRibs, several 6-inch floating rescue craft, rescue vehicles, and swimmers.
NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said search and rescue operations were continuing at Kariega.
“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,” said Lambinon.
“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.”
