Kamogelo Olaitan
Two elderly people remain missing after a dam wall collapse caused a mudslide to flood the surrounding area in Jagersfontein on Sunday.
Free State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) said the search is still on for the man and woman.
EMS spokesperson in the province, Sipho Towa, said emergency officials are working around the whole area that the mudslide went through.
“We will also follow a stream to one of the rivers nearby, which is about 15km from here. It is very muddy but we’ve got a rescue team and divers here, so they are well equipped and can work through those difficult situations,” he added.
More than 40 people have been admitted to hospital with injuries, and one person has been confirmed dead.
The SPCA said 500 animals including dogs, cats, foxes, mice, tortoises and livestock have been rescued.
“There is a lot of farm life in this area of emerging farmers and, unfortunately, a lot of them lost their cattle,” Duan Matthee from the Bloemfontein SPCA told News24.
“A lot of the animals had to be euthanised because the sludge went into their lungs.”
Matthee said 30 goats had been rescued, but that only seven survived.
