Emergency services in Cape Town have rescued an adult male and female from a canal in Pinelands as heavy rains and gale-force winds caused water levels to rise rapidly. The technical rescue occurred amid widespread flooding in the Cape metropole, where specialised teams used ropes and harnesses to reach the trapped individuals before they were swept away by torrential runoff.
The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, Alderman JP Smith, said its Fire and Rescue Services conducted its third major technical rescue in just weeks as they assisted the two people. The Fire and Rescue Service responded to an alert of persons stuck in a void in a canal in the Pinelands area. They were unable to get out, because the water levels were rising rapidly due to the torrential rainfall.
Technical Rescue Operations
Firefighters set up the ropes and had a ladder on standby for an emergency rescue. They assisted Metro Rescue Teams who donned wetsuits and harnesses to get to the trapped individuals. An adult male and female were treated for hypothermia and transported to the hospital, according to the City of Cape Town website.
Smith said this was the third incident in four weeks where the City’s rope rescue technicians were involved. The others were the rescue of a woman who fell into a drain in Bonteheuwel and Sable the canine in Durbanville. Rope Rescue Technicians are specialised firefighters trained in high-angle, low-angle, and confined space environments, utilising ropes, harnesses, and rigging systems for patient access and rescue.
Disaster Risk Management
The City’s Disaster Risk Management spokesperson, Sonica Lategan, said mopping up operations are underway. Lategan further stated that by Monday, no major incidents have been reported. She said blocked drains and flooded roads due to water taking a long time to dissipate were reported. For more information on disaster risk management, visit the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction website.
The following are some tips for staying safe during floods:
- Avoid walking or driving through flooded areas
- Keep an eye on weather forecasts and warnings
- Have a emergency kit with essentials such as food, water, and a first aid kit
