This comes as a team of about seven medical personnel is on their way to the province this morning.

According to the Head of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mokete Duma, more personnel, including engineers, will be sent to KZN to assist them to deal with the effects of the devastating floods. 

So far over 390 people are said to have died with 27 more still missing. 

ALSO READ: Free State government all hands on deck for #KZNfloods

Whilst addressing the group of seven Emergency  Service (EMS) personnel this morning in Bloemfontein, Duma said their efforts will not go unnoticed. 

The Department of Health will be sending five rescue technician practitioners with advanced life support, supported by two other highly specialised personnel who are also lecturers at the Free State College of Emergency Care.

The team has since departed for their search and rescue mission to flood-stricken parts of KZN. This, after the president Cyril Ramaphosa and Cabinet declared a state of disaster allowing funds to be sent to KZN to help in the disaster relief programme.

"The Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and the MEC, Mxolisi Dukwana, including the executive council (Exco), said we must give you a word of encouragement for the work you will be doing. We know it's not an easy task where you will recover the bodies of your sisters and brothers who have perished as a result of the floods," Duma said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Health Spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, said the Free State Department of Health, as part of the integrated multidisciplinary disaster management in the province, has considered lending a helping hand in this national search, find and rescue effort.

"The department will be sending its five rescue technician practitioners with advanced life support, supported by two other highly specialised personnel who are also lecturers at the Free State College of Emergency Care," he adds.

These Free State EMS personnel joining the KZN search, find and rescue effort are set to utilise the following key specialist capabilities:

• High Angle 1&2
• Fire search & rescue
• Hazmat which deals with Harzadous chemical incidents
• Hard to reach confined space
• Water Rescue

OFM News