Two bodies have been recovered, while four people remain missing, after a vehicle was swept away at the Infenebude Bridge in uMsinga, KwaZulu-Natal.

Two bodies have been recovered in uMsinga, KwaZulu-Natal, after a vehicle carrying eight occupants was swept away while attempting to cross the Infenebude Bridge on Thursday night.

According to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the incident occurred just after 19:00 at the low-lying bridge on the P17 in eNadi, eMabovini.

“While two individuals managed to escape the vehicle and reach safety, six others were carried away by the floodwaters,” the department said in a statement.

“The search for the remaining four missing people continues as teams work around the clock.”

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi dispatched provincial disaster management teams, who are working alongside the police’s search and rescue unit to locate the missing people.

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Buthelezi extended his condolences to the bereaved families and said the department was providing support to those affected.

“Our teams are on the ground and will remain there until the missing people are located. We have deployed all necessary resources to ensure the search operation proceeds without delay,” he said.

Disaster management officials remain on high alert across the province as inclement weather persists.

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms expected to impact large parts of the province.

Forecasters have warned of heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning, and hail, which may lead to localised flooding.

The department cautioned motorists against crossing low-lying bridges during heavy rainfall.