Photo: Phiwokuhle Mothemela
The South African Police Services (SAPS) K9 Search and Rescue Diving Units are still working around the clock to locate people who are unaccounted for since last week's flooding in large parts of Nelson Mandela Bay.
It has been one week since the floods claimed ten lives and left hundreds of families displaced.
Severe storms and heavy rains battered the metro and caused extreme damage in many areas, in particular Kwanobuhle, Kariega, Walmer, Blue Horizon Bay, and Kamesh.
According to police, the official flood death toll is now at ten.
In Kwanobuhle four deceased persons were found, Kamesh, Kabega Park, Chatty, and Walmer reported one each with Kariega reporting two deaths.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has joined forces with SAPS to boost the ongoing search mission where two persons remain missing.
NMBM Disaster Management’s Thomas Cameron said the Metro’s Fire and Emergency Services and lifeguards joined the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Coastal Water Rescue in the intensified search efforts that continued on Saturday.
“Currently we have SAPS who are still busy with the search operations. They are now assisted by other organisations including our NMBM teams.
"Their team has now increased to make the search more efficient. That will continue today, as there are still two bodies they are looking for.
"The plan is to recover the vehicle first from the water as it is still there," Cameron said.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Priscilla Naidu said one of the bodies that were discovered on Friday, was one of two females from EastCape Midlands College's High Street Campus.
Her body was discovered on the banks of the Swartkops River in Cuyler Street.
The woman and a friend were reported missing after Saturday's flash floods in Kariega when the vehicle they were traveling in with another male got swept away.
The male has been rescued while the woman's friend is still missing.
The vehicle that they were traveling in was submerged in water.
During a visit to Gqeberha on Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa told those affected that the government would assist.
