KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called for a full investigation into a freak wave that killed three people at the Bay of Plenty beach on Saturday.
The unexpected wave killed three swimmers, including one teenager, at the Durban beach on Saturday afternoon.
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"We are devastated by the sad loss of life. We have asked for an urgent report from our disaster teams and eThekwini Municipality," Dube-Ncube said.
Thirty-five lifeguards were involved in the "mass rescue effort" as paramedics attended to more than 100 people caught in the incident, according to a statement from eThekwini Municipality.
KwaZulu-Natal emergency services spokesperson Robert McKenzie said 17 people were seriously injured and were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Dube-Ncube has also directed that support be prioritised for all affected families in this time of tragedy. She further called on all authorities and operators manning the beaches and sea areas to ensure that adequate and preventative safety measures are in place to avoid any further loss.
??3 Confirmed Deceased After Mass Drowning - North Beach,Durban. EMS responded to reports of a freak wave that swept a group of beachgoers against the pier causing multiple injuries. Unfortunately 3 including a teenager was amongst those who were declared deceased at the scene?? pic.twitter.com/3FPemwjLCr
— Njabulo Dlungele (@njabulodlungele) December 18, 2022
The emergency services said that they were afraid the death toll would rise.
Durban has gradually been re-opening its beaches after closure due to high levels of E.coli coming from the city's sewer system, badly damaged by deadly floods earlier this year.
Already, hundreds of thousands of tourists have flocked to Durban's warm beaches since the beginning of December, according to the mayor.
- additional reporting by AFP