Siphiwe Dlamini
The number of survivors extracted from the rubble of the collapsed building in George has reached 36 as of 5:33 a.m. on Wednesday morning. A multidisciplinary rescue team comprising over 200 emergency workers toiled through the night. The structure on Victoria Street fell on Monday at around 2 p.m., trapping 75 construction workers beneath it. So far, seven people have been confirmed dead, and 39 others are still missing.
As the 33rd person was rescued from the ruins of the building on Tuesday night, the team of emergency personnel erupted in cheers, exchanging high-fives and hugs to celebrate the hard-won victory. They were filled with pride after recovering another man’s body from beneath the debris, over 24 hours since the tragic event. Approximately 200 personnel from Cape Town, Worcester, and Breede Valley, as well as volunteers, have been aiding the search efforts.
A total of 6 people have been killed, with 27 people removed from rubble and 48 people unaccounted for after a multi-story construction building collapsed yesterday in George, Western Cape, South Africa 🇿🇦
▪︎ 6 May 2024 ▪︎#georgebuildingcollapse #George #SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/2jXRETAQJO— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) May 7, 2024
Rescue teams of three are working tirelessly in shifts to save lives from the wreckage. The building itself consisted of an underground parking area and four incomplete floors. Over the past two days, dozens of workers have been saved from the wreckage, with cheers ringing out when yet another worker was confirmed alive last night.
In these intense search efforts, rescuers identified three zones where people remain trapped. Using sniffer dogs, they were able to detect the presence of survivors. The teams alternated between grinding and carefully digging, clearing out large debris in specific areas.
Emergency workers responded with elation as they managed to extract one man from a confined space, swiftly covering him to protect his identity. The crowd erupted in applause for the team that risked their safety to ensure that every worker was accounted for.
Liatel, the construction contractor, expressed their deep sorrow over the incident in a statement.
“Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this tragedy, and we extend our sincerest sympathy to the victims and their families. At this time, our main priority is to assist the ongoing rescue efforts in any way possible. We are coordinating closely with emergency responders and authorities to provide support and resources for the rescue operations,”
the company said.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi stated that the Department of Employment and Labour would begin its investigation once the site is officially handed over, as stipulated by Sections 31 and 32 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). This would occur after rescue and recovery efforts conclude.
“The Department of Employment and Labour Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) inspectors are on site, as they were dispatched (on Monday) when the incident came to the department’s attention. The department is receiving real-time information on the ground from our inspectors and the inspector-general,”
Nxesi stated.
“We are also aware that multiple Disaster Service personnel, including SAPS Search and Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, are involved in a rescue operation to retrieve the trapped construction workers. A number of construction crew workers on site at the time of the incident, and deceased workers, have been reported, but at this stage we await final confirmations,”
he added.
The rescue teams continue to work tirelessly to bring the remaining trapped workers to safety while authorities stand ready to determine the cause of the building’s collapse.
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