Johannesburg – The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) on Friday warned against setting off flares after a duty crew responded to a false alarm in Kommetjie, Western Cape.
"NSRI are urging the public not to set of flares without reason," said Ian Klopper, NSRI Kommetjie station commander in a statement.
He was responding to a false alarm on Wednesday night. "NSRI Kommetjie duty crew, while on routine training off-shore of Kommetjie, diverted sea rescue craft to investigate reports of distress flares sighted by eye-witnesses approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore of Kommetjie," said Klopper.
"Despite an extensive search no sign of any vessel, craft or persons were found in distress and the flare activation remains a mystery."
Klopper said it is illegal to set off flares without reason and punishable by law.