About 60 people were at risk of being swallowed by floodwaters in the Eastern Cape, in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Kouga Dam had risen from around 40% to an estimated 132%, in just 12 hours.
In addition, the Groot Rivier, was reportedly in flood, spilling over to Patensie Valley and beyond.
Ian Gray, NSRI Eastern Cape Regional Manager, said some 49 people (the oldest being 80 and the youngest aged 5) and (as yet undetermined) a number of animals, were rescued successfully.
15 refused to be relocated.
Gray also said it took a partnership to pull off a successful rescue, between NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Oyster Bay duty crew, NSRI Jeffreys Bay, NSRI St Francis Bay, to begin a coordinated response with the SA Police Services, EC Government Health EMS and Eastern Cape private ambulance services, DRM (Disaster Risk Management), Kouga Municipality, Kouga Fire and Rescue Services, Police divers (WPDS – Water Policing and Diving Services), Police Search and Rescue and Police K9 Search and Rescue, Police Sea Borderline Control, and the Police Air Wing.
NSRI crews were able to reach approximately 1.6 kilometers from the affected area by road before wading and swimming along roadways to reach the area in efforts to get an accurate situation report.
Rescued animals were dogs, cats, parrots and some livestock.
The NSRI said people and animals displaced are being assisted in a coordinated approach with the Municipality until it is deemed safe to return home.
Picture: Supplied