CROSSING QUANTUM STUCK IN RIVER

MBABANE – The effects of Cyclone Eloise continue to threaten the lives of emaSwati.

In the most recent event, a Toyota Quantum got stuck in the middle of a bridge while its driver was attempting to cross to the other side.

The incident happened at an area known as Mhlangeni area, in Bhunya under LaMgabhi Constituency.

The driver was attempting to drive through the flooded bridge at the Usuthu River. He was, however, stuck in the middle of the bridge for about an hour.

Passengers

The incident happened around 6am yesterday, where the driver of the public transport vehicle was driving towards Bhunya to start ferrying passengers who were going to work in the morning.

According to a close source, the Quantum transports people along the Bhunya and Manzini route.

“As usual, the driver was going about his normal duties when he got stuck in the overflowing bridge following the heavy rainfall that the country received last night (Monday night). He was alone inside the vehicle. The Quantum got stuck in the middle of the bridge. At least there was no strong current to force the quantum off the bridge,” said the source. Mhlangeni Bucopho Dumisani Mbuli confirmed the incident, stating that he was one of the first people to arrive at the scene.

“I am a witness to what happened at the scene. I received a call early in the morning, before 8am, informing me that we had to rescue a Quantum driver who was trapped in the middle of the bridge at the dangerous overflowing Usuthu River.

“We arrived at the scene with a tractor and rope so we could first save the driver. One of us stood at the shallow end of the river and threw the rope to the driver, who was already out of the Quantum.

“The driver was saved by the rope that we threw at him and later, a team of police officers and scuba divers joined the rescue team and dragged the Toyota Quantum out of the water,” he said

Mbuli warned other members of the Mhlangeni community, to avoid crossing rivers these days.

“The Usuthu River is still overflowing from last week’s heavy rains. It is dangerous to cross the river in these times. I plead with people to minimise their travelling,” said Mbuli.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the incident at Mhlangeni, stating that some of their officers were deployed to the area to drag the Quantum out of the water.

Removed

“According to our reports, there was only the driver inside the Quantum when the incident happened. He was safely removed together with the vehicle.

“We, again, warn people to be cautious when crossing rivers during these times because the rains are persisting and rivers are still overflowing,” said Mnguni. 

In the past week, a number of emaSwati, including the country’s renowned traditional healer Eliot ‘Black Cat’ Fakudze, died after being swept away by the floods.

Not only did people die from the floods, but infrastructure, including roads, bridges and some homes, were destroyed.

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