A strange phenomenon occurred on a beach in South Africa, causing the deaths and injuries of multiple people.
A “freak” wave smashed onto the beach in Durban, South Africa on Saturday, December 18, causing at least three deaths and at least 17 people were hurt.
Sunbathers were swept by the massive wave onto a pier during the incident, which happened at approximately 5:00 pm, according to Emergency Services (EMS) worker Njabulo Dlungele on North Beach in Durban.
Dlungele tweeted “EMS reacted to reports of a freak wave that carried a group of beachgoers against the pier inflicting many injuries. Unfortunately, three people, including a teenager, were pronounced dead at the site.”
Dlungele wrote at the time that 15 people suffered injuries, many serious, but witnesses indicated that more people involved in the tragedy had died than was initially reported.
Rescue efforts were made by more than 35 lifeguards who tried to save more than 100 people who were affected by the fatal wave.
Replying to Dlungele’s tweet, a woman from Durban tweeted, “Please research further…my 12-year-old niece died upon arrival at the hospital and she’s not the only one. Three confirmed dead is wrong. Sixteen kids drowned on Durban beach yesterday and no one is reporting on it.”
The woman was interviewed by People magazine online and told the media that the nurses at the hospital were saying that many families had lost loved ones and that there were many people still missing.
A local government leader, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, posted on Facebook and said that the accident was being investigated and that the government is “grieved by this unfortunate loss of life.”
“It is believed that a freak wave put many into distress while swimming and they tragically drowned,” he wrote.
Durban is a popular tourist destination and beaches were crowded during the holiday season, which is hot in South Africa.
