PUBLIC URGED TO REFRAIN FROM CROSSING FLOODED RIVERS AND STREAMS

SEKHUKHUNE

 

Warning messages continue to spread urging locals to refrain from crossing flooded rivers, streams and dams.

This warning comes after several people aged between eight and 73 lost their lives recently as they drowned.

 

According to Limpopo SAPS, five people are still missing after they allegedly drowned, the list include a 14 year old boy who drowned at Ga-Mochemi village on 12 February.

The search operations are still underway.

 

“The Police are continuously receiving calls from members of the community whom their loved ones are swept away by the flooded rivers, streams and dams. The Saps Water-Wing (Divers) is hard at work to the best of their ability to retrieve all the drowned people across the Province, since January 2021 up to date, “said SAPS spokesman Brig Motlafelo Mojapelo.

 

He said the SAPS are worried by these incidents because since the beginning of this rainy period, drownings are escalating.

 

“We are therefore appealing to the public to avoid swimming in or crossing the flooded rivers, streams and dams. Parents are also warned and urged to take care of their children especially that schools will be reopening as many rivers and streams are still full and flowing heavily.”

 

Members of the community are further advised to be vigilant and extremely cautious when crossing the law level bridges especially in cases where the bridge is covered by the flowing water, not to allow children to swim in the dams and rivers unsupervised and to avoid unnecessary walking when it is heavily raining.