Staff Reporter
In the aftermath of devastating flash floods that struck Ladysmith on Christmas Eve, the Medical Search and Rescue team has announced that the bodies of five additional victims have been recovered, bringing the total death toll to 11.
The torrential downpour and subsequent flash floods wreaked havoc on the town, submerging homes, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, and sweeping away vehicles in its path.
The spokesperson for Medical Search and Rescue, Samantha Meyrick, revealed that a dedicated team of 60 rescue members, accompanied by 12 specially trained dogs, tirelessly scoured the affected areas to locate and recover the victims.
Over the past five days, multiple emergency service teams and police K9 units have been diligently searching the riverbanks in Ladysmith to locate any remaining missing persons.
The Inter-government Relations Manager of the Al-Imdaad Foundation,
Abed Karrim, provided an update on the relief efforts.
“We have been providing assistance to the families at the Caravan park since yesterday distributing blankets, mattresses, and hygiene packs. We are continuing to do so. The generous Ladysmith community has come together, offering groceries and lending a hand with cooking.
The situation right now is families are cleaning and trying to get back to normality.” Said Karrim.
The Al-Imdaad Foundation has established a temporary tent camp to aid those who have been displaced by the disaster.
