The body of a woman who’s car was swept off a bridge by flood waters was found in Postmasburg on Saturday, Northern Cape paramedics said.
ER24 spokesperson Derrick Banks said her vehicle had been spotted from the air in a river, however when rescuers got there they found the vehicle was empty.
Emergency units, including the air wing, mounted a search for the woman, Banks said
“The driver’s body was recovered shortly after,” Banks said.
Paramedics reported the one fatality and nine rescues after heavy rainfall caused flooding in the Postmasburg area on Saturday.
“Emergency personnel had their hands full trying to evacuate residents from their homes for safety reasons due to the rising water levels.”
There was also an unconfirmed report of two children who were also swept away in a car in the same area.
Banks said a 37-year-old man was eventually rescued after being stuck in a tree for over two hours.
The man was treated by paramedics and transported to the Postmasburg Provincial Hospital.
He said another eight people were rescued from either rooftops or trees by the military and South African Police Service helicopters.
It seemed that the water started to subside just after 5pm on Saturday, but emergency personnel were still on the scene assisting residents and commuters, Banks said. – Sapa