Dogs brought in to search for flood victim

2006-08-04 12:06

Johannesburg - Nine police dogs and their handlers flew to George on Friday to search for a man still missing after heavy floods, said police.

Captain Flippie Olivier, the commander of the search and rescue dog training unit at the Pretoria West police dog training school, said the team comprised seven trainees and two senior officers.

The trainees had almost completed their training but needed experience and would be able to use the trip for training.

Olivier said the team was sent because five people had been reported missing, one in George and four in Oudtshoorn.

In George, Captain Malcolm Pojie said the four reported missing in Oudtshoorn had been found unhurt.

Police were still searching for a man who went missing when the car he and four others were in was swept off a collapsed bridge in Conville, George, on Tuesday night. Bodies of the other four, including two children, were found earlier.

"It's still raining and hampering our efforts to recover the body," said Pojie.

Ground, structures very unsafe

He said everyone except residents was asked to stay away from the Glentana area, where houses collapsed.

"The Glentana area is very dangerous at this stage as we are expecting mudslides. The ground and structures are very unsafe."

People evacuated from informal settlements were still being housed in various halls while residents flooded out of established areas were starting to return home.

"About 780 of the original 1 200 people evacuated are back at their homes as the water level has dropped in certain areas and it is safe to go back," said Pojie.

Pojie said major routes were open again except the Meiringspoort pass.

He urged motorists to be careful and warned people to stay on higher ground if possible.

- SAPA