NSRI Mossel Bay assists with flood evacuation at the Geelbek Vlei River near Brandwacht

The NSRI Mossel Bay duty team received an activation call after Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services requested assistance for a group of stranded employees from a nearby company.

At 16h12, Saturday, 21 October, NSRI Mossel Bay duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services reporting employees of a local business stranded at a road, cut off by swollen flooding conditions, at the Geelbek Vlei River, near to Brandwacht.

A secondary exit had been investigated, by the large group of local employees of the local business, attempting to go home from a day at work but that roadway had also been cut off by flooding.

SAWS (South African Weather Service) had forecast heavy rainfall for the area.

An NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our NSRI JetRib and NSRI volunteers personal vehicles, with a personal NSRI volunteers pencil duck, WC Government Health EMS, Eden Lifesaving, using a pencil duck rescue craft, Mossel Bay Fire and Rescue Services, EDR, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), SA Police Services, SAPS Sea Borderline Control and SAPS Water Policing and Dive Services, using their Police boat, responded.

83 adults, males and females, secured into life-jackets, without incident were ferried across the river in relays, aboard the 4 rescue craft, where they were able to then take their arranged transport to their homes.

There were no injuries.

The swift response and cooperation between services is commended.

The operation completed at 19h30.