The National Sea Rescue Institute NSRI has welcomed the development of a rip current hazard forecast model by the South African Weather Services.
The model, launched in Cape Town, aims to forecast the occurrence of rip currents more accurately. National Sea Rescue Institute spokesperson Andrew Ingram says the model will help them in their festive season planning.
"This new rip current hazard forecast model is an absolutely magnificent tool for beach safety around the peninsula and the City of Cape Town . And I think over this season it will really help us to plan how we distribute our resources and on which days we need to be more vigilant than other days. And I think that as this project goes up around the country into the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal next year and in the following years it's going to help South Africa to reduce its terrible drowning statistics."
