Amanzimtoti flooding: Search and rescue teams mobilise to look for missing men
Search and rescue teams are in Amanzimtoti to search for three men who are feared missing after a vehicle was swept away in flood waters on Sunday.
Image: ALS Paramedics
Search and rescue teams including from SAPS, have gathered in an area in Amanzimtioti where three people are feared missing after a vehicle was swept away in flood waters.
According to ALS Paramedics Garrith Jamieson a briefing was to be held to discuss the way forward.
He said five people were in a vehicle travelling along a low-level bridge on Sunday when the incident occurred. The vehicle has been found near Longacres Drive.
Jamieson said family who were at the scene reported that two of the people managed to escape while the three men remain unaccounted for.
“We do have family members on the scene who confirm that five males were in this vehicle and at approximately midnight, they were on their way home and they tried to cross a low-level bridge and the vehicle got swept away. I believe that two people escaped with minor or no injuries however three males are presumed missing.”
He also said that search and rescue teams attempted to search on Sunday but visibility was poor and the current was too strong.
Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli is visiting the Ugu District Municipality on the KZN South Coast to assess the impact of the floods experienced on Sunday.
He was met by mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, Zodwa Mzindle, together with the Mayor of Ugu District Municipality, Sikhumbuzo Mqadi.
The storms lashed Margate, Port Shepstone and surrounding towns leaving one person dead due to a mudslide. Damage to infrastructure and residential properties have also occurred.
The Ugu District said the visit to flood affected areas aims to:
• Assess the extent of damage caused by recent flooding
• Engage directly with affected communities
• Coordinate immediate relief and recovery interventions
• Reinforce intergovernmental support to accelerate response efforts
“Government remains committed to ensuring that affected residents receive the necessary assistance and that recovery measures are implemented as a matter of urgency. Further updates will be shared as engagements progress,” the municipality said.