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[FILE IMAGE]: A river runs high after heavy rains.
A total number of four bodies have now been recovered after a bakkie with eight occupants was washed away by the swollen Tugela River amid heavy rains in the Msinga area in KwaZulu-Natal. Two bodies were recovered in the river on Saturday morning while the other two bodies were retrieved from the water on Friday.
A third person has been found in the Tugela River in the Msinga area in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday morning after the bakkie they were travelling in was washed off a low-lying bridge during heavy rain on Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/JKyjU4nRou
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 7, 2026
Two occupants, the driver and his front passenger, managed to escape. Six occupants, who were seated under a canopy on the back, could not get out.
Rescue teams are continuing the search for the other two missing occupants.
Provincial Co-operative Governance Spokesperson Senzo Mzila says on Friday, search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of two females; the first was located in the iNadi River (uMsinga) and the second in the uThukela River on the Nkandla Local Municipality side.
BREAKING NEWS | A third body has been recovered in the Tugela River, Umsinga, as the death toll rises after a bakkie carrying eight occupants, attempting to cross a flooded, low-lying bridge, was swept away by the swollen river on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/nrIXRD9l8n
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 7, 2026
“Tragically, one of the deceased females was pregnant. Today, the operation led to the recovery of two further victims from the uThukela River. The victims identified thus far are aged between 25 and 40. MEC for CoGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has extended his condolences to the bereaved families. Two males remain missing, and teams continue to work around the clock.”
RELATED VIDEO | Three still missing after bakkie swept away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjJrk95FiYA
