Search continues for two missing after uMsinga flood disaster

Search and recovery teams have recovered two more bodies following Thursday’s flood tragedy in uMsinga Local Municipality, bringing the death toll to four. The victims were among six people who were swept away when their vehicle attempted to cross a low-lying bridge in the eNadi area of eMabovini shortly after 7pm. According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the latest recoveries were made on Saturday in the uThukela River.

One female victim was recovered on the uMsinga side of the river, while a male victim was found at eMakhabeleni in uMvoti Local Municipality. On Friday, search teams located the bodies of two women, one in the iNadi River in uMsinga and another on the Nkandla side of the uThukela River. Authorities confirmed that one of the women was pregnant.

The victims identified so far are aged between 25 and 40 years. Two men remain missing and search teams continue working across multiple municipal areas.Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi extended condolences to the affected families. “The MEC commended the search and rescue teams for their tireless efforts across multiple municipal boundaries to provide closure to the families,” the department said in a statement. Officials said the provincial disaster management centre is coordinating ongoing search operations together with local authorities.