Staff Reporter
Three people died, and 23 farm workers were rescued after flooding trapped them in farm buildings in the area between Worcester and Rawsonville, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Wednesday.
Those rescued included babies, children, elderly people, a blind man and a paraplegic man.
The two deceased men and a deceased woman were located and recovered from flooded buildings on the farm during a mass rescue operation on Tuesday.
“The bodies of the deceased have been taken into the care of police and government health forensic pathology services. Condolences are conveyed to the families of the deceased,” NSRI Kleinmond station commander Schalk Boonzaaier said.
ALSO READ: Joburg collects nearly R100m in outdoor advertising crackdown
The Western Cape has been experiencing severe weather, which lead to the South African Weather Services (SAWS) issuing Orange Level 8 and Level 6 warnings for disruptive rainfall until Tuesday. SAWS said residents should prepare for flooding of roads, bridges and settlements, mudslides and danger from fast-flowing rivers.
It also warned that very cold, wet and windy conditions were expected to persist until Wednesday.
The rescue started when NSRI Kleinmond crew were activated on Tuesday morning following a request for assistance from the Western Cape Government Health EMS Metro Rescue and Western Cape Disaster Risk Management, working with Overberg Disaster Risk Management.
The request followed reports that farm workers were trapped on the roofs of farm buildings on a farm along the Old N1 roadway.
Boonzaaier said NSRI Kleinmond crew mustered at the NSRI Kleinmond Station 42 rescue base before proceeding to the EMS rescue base at Worcester in an NSRI rescue vehicle, towing the NSRI JetRIB rescue craft. They were accompanied by NSRI CROCS, small floating rescue craft, and private vehicles used by NSRI crews.
ALSO READ: Tshwane reeling from unfunded budgets
NSRI crews from Mykonos, Yzerfontein, Headquarters Station 1 and Melkbosstrand were also deployed across a wide area of the Western Cape for flood-related rescue operations, working with emergency services and police.
On arrival in Worcester, the Kleinmond crew were briefed by EMS Metro Rescue commanders. Provincial Traffic Services and an EMS Metro Rescue squad also assisted in the evacuation.
Boonzaaier said the NSRI crew, wearing wetsuits and wet-weather gear, launched the JetRIB and CROCS from the nearest landmark on the Old N1 roadway and reached the farm, where 23 people were found trapped by floodwaters.
They had reportedly been on the roofs of farm buildings since Monday.
“Using ladders, the casualties were evacuated to safety in relays, using the flotation of our rescue craft,” Boonzaaier said.
“Our rescue crew worked tirelessly despite challenging conditions, often wading and swimming through barely accessible terrain and flooded areas.”
ALSO READ: Another 2 million foot-and-mouth doses arrive in SA
Once the rescued people were out of harm’s way and safely on dry land, they were taken into the care of the farmer, the NSRI said.
Boonzaaier said rescuers were unable to recover a number of farm animals, domestic animals and wildlife, including snakes, because conditions became increasingly dangerous for rescue crews.
“We are cautiously optimistic, in all hopes, that as the flooded areas water subsides these animals will survive.”
“We express our deep appreciation for the cooperation with the emergency services during this operation,” Boonzaaier said.
