Tragedy struck yesterday when six women were swept away by the raging Klein Olifants River near the bridge after a sluice at the Middelburg Dam was opened. The surge in water caught the group off-guard.

Middelburg Observer reports that three of the women managed to cling to tree branches and were later pulled to safety by SAPS Search and Rescue teams. The remaining three were swept away downstream by the force of the water.

While provincial police confirmed the details in a statement just before midnight yesterday, saying only two women were being searched for, and correcting earlier reports that suggested three women were still unaccounted for, families standing on the bridge and rescue teams told Middelburg Observer that they were in fact searching for three women.

Police have confirmed that two of the missing women’s bodies have been found.

Emergency services, including the Middelburg K9 Unit and Police Diving Unit, remained on the scene until late into the night to locate the missing women. However, the search had to be suspended due to dangerous conditions. Teams returned at first light this morning to continue the operation.

At the time of publishing, the search was continuing for the remaining missing woman.

Middelburg Observer has been on the scene from early this morning.

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