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Two female students from EastCape Midlands Colleges' High Street Campus in Kariega remain missing since flash floods and torrential rain hammered the region since Saturday last week.
The Level 2 students, aged 21 and 22, studying Marketing and Tourism were last seen with a male friend when his white Suzuki vehicle allegedly got swept away near the Swartkops River.
Assistant Director for Marketing and Communications Elmari van de Merwe says fortunately their friend was rescued in the early hours of Sunday morning, clinging to a palm tree on the opposite side of the river on the Lumotech's side.
Divers had to rush to the scene to rescue him.
His car has still not been retrieved.
Van de Merwe says Monday morning, a concerned student residing with the two missing students reported their absence to Campus Officials.
She said the College administration promptly responded by accompanying the student to the local police station to officially report the student's missing.
The unthinkable task of informing the women's parents was now upon the institution and families drove to Gqeberha from Cape Town and East London respectively.
The distraught parents did not want to divulge the names of their missing children and psychosocial support is being offered to them.
Van de Merwe says once SAPS were informed the search operation became an utmost priority and an immediate rescue operation was launched.
She says the College is offering support to the community and is in constant communication with students' family members.
Meanwhile, another person remains missing after on Thursday he tried to cross a river in Melbrooks in Kariega with a friend.
Spokesperson for Disaster Management Thomas Cameron says the friend managed to cross safely while his friend got swept away.
The death toll in the floods is standing at eight with three people missing.
