Staff Reporter
Four bodies have been recovered after six people were swept away while trying to cross a low-lying bridge in KwaZulu-Natal.
Two men remain missing as search teams continue operations across multiple municipalities, the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said on Saturday.
The victims were swept away on Thursday after their vehicle attempted to cross a low-lying bridge in eNadi, eMabovini, in the uMsinga Local Municipality at night.
While two individuals managed to escape the vehicle and reach safety, six others were carried away by the floodwaters.
The department said two female bodies were recovered on Friday, with the first found in the iNadi River in uMsinga and the second in the uThukela River on the Nkandla Local Municipality side.
On Saturday, search teams recovered two more bodies from the uThukela River, a female on the uMsinga side and a male at eMakhabeleni in the uMvoti Local Municipality.
One of the deceased women was pregnant, the department said. The victims identified so far are aged between 25 and 40.
The South African Weather Service had issued a Yellow Level 4 warning for severe thunderstorms in the province for Friday, 6 March, warning of heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning, hail, localised flooding and possible impacts on bridges and roads.
“The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, continues to coordinate search and recovery operations following Thursday’s tragic incident in the uMsinga Local Municipality,” the department said in a statement.
“MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
The department said Buthelezi had also praised the emergency teams involved in the operation.
Two males remain missing and teams were continuing to work around the clock, the department said.
“The Department, in coordination with the uMsinga Local Municipality, is in constant liaison with the affected families to provide the necessary support during this period,” it said.
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