South Africa: Emergency Services Rescue Passengers From Sinking Bus

Emergency services rescued passengers from a sinking bus in Orlando, Soweto after receiving a frantic phone call from one of its occupants. 

On Friday, December 9, emergency services were called to the scene where passengers were trapped in a sinking bus in Orlando, Soweto.

Downpours in Johannesburg have caused flooding and severe storm damage.

At around 6:30 a.m., EMER-G-Emergency MED's Operations Centre received a frantic call from a bus passenger.

She informed the Emergency Dispatcher that the bus had become stuck in the torrential rains and was rapidly absorbing water.

The bus was stuck in an unknown area with rising water levels.

The caller was distraught and unable to explain its location or any nearby landmarks.

The caller was asked to send her GPS location via WhatsApp to the emergency dispatcher.

The Emer-G-Med Emergency Operations Centre and First Assist were immediately dispatched to locate the bus and assist the passengers.

Once the GPS coordinates were obtained, rescue units from the City of Johannesburg, the South African Police Services, and the Emergency Medical Services, as well as the First Assist Commercial Heavy Duty Towing division, were dispatched to assist.

During this time, the dispatcher kept in touch with the caller to reassure and calm her.

Rescue workers performed a delicate and skilled rescue operation.

As a result, all passengers on a 60-seater passenger bus were safely retrieved.