Emergency responders are navigating treacherous, wildlife-infested waters in Mpumalanga following a dramatic crash that sent a vehicle plunging into the Crocodile River early Sunday.
The ordeal began just after 4:00 a.m. near the University of Mpumalanga. According to local residents, the driver of a white vehicle failed to halt at a major junction—where routes branch toward Mbombela and Kanyamazane. The car reportedly smashed through a steel perimeter fence before careening approximately 500 meters into the river. Scattered debris, including the vehicle’s bumper, was left behind at the breached gate.
Due to the severe risks posed by the waterway, which is heavily populated by crocodiles and hippos, rescue crews had to delay their operations until first light. Plunging into the freezing water shortly after 9:00 a.m., the team faces a perilous environment compounded by steep, slippery riverbanks.
According to a police spokesperson on the scene, the head of the local diving unit is leading the underwater search, accompanied by two junior divers—one man and one woman. To mitigate the threat of wildlife attacks, the three-person team is staying tightly grouped while navigating the depths. They are dragging a heavy steel wire through the water, intended to secure the submerged car so a heavy tow truck, positioned on the hill above, can winch it to the surface.
An emergency services spokesperson confirmed that it remains entirely unknown how many individuals were inside the white vehicle at the time of the crash, or if the driver was traveling alone.
While drones have been successfully deployed in previous Mpumalanga river rescues to protect human divers from crocodile attacks, the spokesperson noted that no aerial drones have been brought in for this specific operation yet. The physical search currently relies entirely on the dive team battling the cold and hazardous conditions.
Law enforcement has strictly cordoned off the crash site. Authorities are actively warning the public and local residents to clear the surrounding yards and stay far from the riverbanks, emphasizing the immediate danger of crocodiles lurking in the waters near the shore.
The multi-agency search for the vehicle and any potential occupants remains ongoing.