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| author/source:Mail & Guardian (SA) |
| published:Thu 19-Jan-2006 |
| posted on this site:Thu 19-Jan-2006 |
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| Article Type : News |
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| Diving team scouring the area |
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Johannesburg - As many as 60 Zimbabwean border jumpers could have drowned in the flooded Limpopo River last week, Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper reported on Thursday. It said on its website police could neither confirm nor deny this figure. The border jumpers are believed to have perished last Friday night in the Dite area, 60km from Beitbridge town. Villagers from Dite told the Herald they believed some of their relatives were among the casualties. South African rescue teams have joined Zimbabwe police in the search for bodies. A 17-member police diving team, bolstered by two helicopters, was already scouring the area on Wednesday. The Zimbabwe police officer commanding Beitbridge, Superintendent Bethel Magora, said search patrols would be deployed on either side of the Limpopo on Thursday. Magora said foot patrol teams of six would also be dispatched to the suspected drowning spot. "Our search would include interviewing residents who live along the river valley so that we come up with a clear picture of the situation." Heavy rains that have been pounding Beitbridge for the past 10 days led to the flooding of the Limpopo, which separates Zimbabwe from South Africa. The Herald said there has been an increase in the number of border jumpers who, after being deported from South Africa, resort to illegally crossing back through the Limpopo River.
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