NSRI
National Sea Rescue Institute volunteers and other stakeholders stepped in to assist in rescue operations as heavy rain led to flooding in Nelson Mandela Bay and other parts of the Eastern Cape, including Buffalo City.
Spokesperson, Craig Lambinon, said their resources from Oyster Bay and Jeffreys Bay were also activated on Saturday, with up to 70 people safely removed to mustering points in 55 rescue operations.
However, four women remain missing, while an adult male and baby girl (as yet unconfirmed) were declared deceased at various scenes.
Lambinon said the stakeholders involved included the SA Police Services, SAPS divers, K9 Search and Rescue, Fire and Rescue Services, Relay Ambulance Services, NSRI stations 6 Gqeberha, 36 Oyster Bay and 37 Jeffreys Bay, Coastal Water Rescue, and EC Government Health EMS.
Local security companies and members of communities were deployed together with Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality late on Saturday night during the heavy rain.
Lambinon said the NSRI has three JetRibs, several 6-inch floating rescue craft, NSRI rescue vehicles with NSRI rescue swimmers, and Coastal Water Rescue rescue swimmers who are assisting the police and emergency services in ongoing search and rescue operations.
Multiple rescue operations remain underway.
Four females remain missing, an adult male and a (believed to be) baby girl are deceased at various scenes at Kariega.https://t.co/a7c2WHolMH
— National Sea Rescue Institute (@NSRI) June 2, 2024
In one incident at around 03h00 a SMHART security officer reported a vehicle with six persons trapped in the flooded Brak River, in Rocklands.
“One male was recovered safely from an island, that had formed in the river, an adult female was swept away and is missing, the remaining 4 of these 6 people were recovered safe on the Southern side of the river.
“Multiple rescue operations have recovered persons safely from buildings, residences, and vehicles,” Lambinon said.
He said the fire station at Kariega was also flooded.
Meanwhile, at the Port of Port Elizabeth, NSRI Gqeberha, in cooperation with Transnet National Ports Authority, and Port Control, were assessing reports of vessels breaking their moorings.
Lambinon said in NSRI East London, was also cooperating with Transnet and Port of East London Port Control, to assist on the Buffalo River, following reports of sunken or washed away jetties, and vessels breaking their moorings.
