The Mpumalanga Search and Rescue Team responded to a traumatic incident at the Komatipoort low-lying bridge yesterday, after a bakkie carrying eight people was swept away by the flooded Nkomazi River.

Lowvelder reports that the incident occurred at the same low-lying bridge where a tragic search operation recently took place for two South African National Defence Force soldiers who were swept away on Christmas Day.

According to reports, a bakkie attempted to cross the submerged bridge when the powerful current overwhelmed the vehicle, pulling it into the river.

When the SAPS Diving Unit and rescue teams arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle partially submerged and trapped by the water. However, a search of the vehicle revealed it was empty. It was later confirmed that all eight occupants had managed to escape from the vehicle on their own and reach safety before the current could pull them further downstream.

While the passengers are safe, the vehicle remains trapped in the river, serving as a stark reminder of the bridge’s danger during the current rainy season.

The police have urged the public to respect road closures and avoid low-lying bridges entirely during heavy rains.

The river is currently raging and inhabited by dangerous wildlife, including crocodiles and hippos. Attempting to cross these bridges is not only a risk to your life but also to the lives of the rescue teams who must respond.

Residents are reminded that even heavy vehicles like bakkies and military trucks are not immune to the force of the Nkomazi River when it is in flood.

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