Update on the emergency response to the flooding

Condolences are conveyed to the families who have lost loved ones during the flooding. Our thoughts are with those families who have loved ones who are still missing. Our thoughts are with those who are displaced.

Clifford Ireland, NSRI Kwa-Zulu Natal Regional Director, said:
NSRI has commended the massive response from our NSRI stations in Port Edward, Shelly Beach, Rocky Bay, Durban and Ballito.

All of our NSRI volunteers in the region contributed. We commend the support from our NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre).

Our neighbouring Eastern Cape NSRI stations, NSRI Richards Bay and St Lucia, NSRI Gauteng and NSRI Western Cape who were all on alert to respond to assist is heartfelt.

This has been the biggest mass rescue operation we have faced in recent history.

The collection of volunteer services that NSRI are a part of under SA-CAN (Community Action Network) with the coordination and activation on the START network worked well and in accordance with the emergency preparedness plans in place to operate in these kinds of emergencies.

All emergency services who came together - Disaster Risk Management, NSRI, Ethekwini and Kwadakuza lifeguards, Police Search and Rescue, the SA Police Services, Fire and Rescue Services, Traffic Services, Metro Police and Metro Police Search and Rescue, KZN Government Health EMS, Private ambulance services, local security companies, breakdown services, community response teams, Municipal staff, the 112 emergency call centres and Transnet National Ports Authority, who despite overwhelming odds and for over 36 hours tirelessly helped to rescue scores of people and animals alike.

We commend local communities and residents who assisted each other. Despite the sad loss of life thousands of people were rescued and assisted.

It appears from the SA Weather Services that further rains are forecast and hopefully they are not as intense as what has been experienced.

It is too early to single out any specific rescue as there were hundreds of rescue operations carried out over a short space of time and in some cases search, rescue and recovery operations are continuing.

We are continuing to appeal to the public not to cross flooded rivers or waterways and not to drive across bridges that are under flood.

Allow authorities the opportunity to assess structural damage to buildings and roadways.

We are appealing to the public to avoid harms way and to stay safe.