The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre confirmed on Thursday, 28 December 2023, that search and rescue teams have uncovered the remains of four individuals in Ladysmith KwaZulu-Natal. These unfortunate souls lost their lives during the catastrophic floods that struck the region on Sunday, 24 December 2023.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (KZCOGTA) reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently engaged in the process of identifying the bodies.
This collaborative effort involves working closely with the families of the reported missing individuals. With this latest discovery, the death toll resulting from the Ladysmith flood disaster has now reached 10, leaving six individuals still unaccounted for.
MEC for KZN COGTA Bongiwe Sithole-Moloi expressed her deepest condolences to the grieving families. In the wake of this heart-wrenching tragedy, the government has pledged unwavering support, offering counselling and assistance with burial arrangements to all affected families.
Furthermore, KZN COGTA revealed that efforts to locate the missing individuals were escalated on Thursday, with the deployment of additional resources from neighbouring provinces.
MEC Sithole-Moloi conveyed her gratitude to the dedicated search and rescue team, spearheaded by the SAPS K9 Unit, which is collaborating with IPSS Medical Rescue, the AL-Imdaad Foundation for Disaster, and the South African Red Cross.
Moreover, the search operation remains ongoing on the ground, with updates promised to be promptly shared as soon as they are verified.
In light of these developments, the public is invited to share their thoughts and views on this tragic incident in the comment section below.
