Nelspruit – Mpumalanga province has recorded eleven drownings from March 4 to date, at various places in the province including Tonga, Nelspruit, Greylingstad, Piet Retief and Badplaas.
These incidents came as a result of the recent heavy rains.” Among those who drowned are three children between the ages of 2 and 11. The 2-year-old boy from Piet Retief fell into a hole that was dug for erecting a pit toilet,”said Col Leonard Hlathi spokesperson for the police.
Police also reported to had rescued twelve people including motorists who were attempting to cross over flooded bridges and their vehicles were swept away Hlathis said the majority of the people who became victims of the floods were trying to cross over the flooded rivers.
“The Inland Water Police and Diving Service worked tirelessly in rescuing the twelve victims and retrieving the remains of those who lost the fight,”he said.
Two bodies of victims are still outstanding because of the dangerous condition of the rivers. .
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani Ntobela urged communities and motorist not to attempt to cross over flooded rivers, bridges or dams. Parents are also urged to look after their children and discourage them from playing around rivers and dams because of the inherent dangers
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