Dozens Of Pupils Trapped By SA Floods Are Free

Dozens of schoolchildren have been rescued after heavy floods trapped them in a South African resort for three days.

The group, made up of 72 pupils and 10 teachers from Aliwal North Primary School, became stranded at the Cango Mountain Resort in Oudtshoorn on Sunday, after a river that runs through the hotel overflowed.

Oudtshoorn Mayor Chris Macpherson told the Times Live that the pupils were able to leave the resort on Wednesday morning.

“The river had subsided overnight to an extent that vehicles could safely drive over the low water bridge,” Mr Macpherson said.

On Tuesday, an emergency helicopter had provided food and water to the stranded group.

Heavy downpours began over the weekend and lasted until late Tuesday.

Several rivers across the Western Cape province overflowed, resulting in damaged infrastructure and widespread power outages.

In Cape Town eight people were electrocuted amid the ferocious weather, while hundreds of others have been evacuated from their homes.

BBC/Jide Johnson.