On Monday, a collapse of an apartment building under construction hit the city of George, South Africa. The incident has claimed at least five lives, with over 40 individuals still trapped beneath the rubble.
Also Read: Thieves Killed 3 Surfers in Mexico for Truck, Bodies Found in Well
At approximately 2:09 p.m. local time on Monday, security camera footage captured the moment when the concrete structure and metal scaffolding of the building came crashing down.
The collapse of the building located near the city center resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals with many more left buried under the rubble.
The collapse occurred in George situated on the southern coast of South Africa. Of the 75 workers on-site during the collapse, 26 have been rescued, while the fate of 49 remains uncertain.
Initial reports indicate 21 individuals have been transported to various hospitals with 11 sustaining severe injuries.
More than 100 emergency personnel aided by sniffer dogs and heavy lifting equipment have been working to locate and extricate trapped individuals.
Three separate teams have been deployed to search specific areas within the collapsed building. Rescuers have made contact with 11 trapped workers.
The presence of large concrete slabs obstructing access to trapped individuals has complicated rescue efforts.
Colin Deiner, Chief Director of Disaster Management described the operation as akin to “searching for a needle in a haystack.”
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and local authorities are actively coordinating rescue operations. The national government has been briefed on the situation.
Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse with police opening a case to ascertain accountability.
Security camera footage captured the moment of collapse, aiding investigators in understanding the sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
Also Read: New COVID-19 Variants FLiRT Spreads Fast in the US
Local leaders, including George’s Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk, have expressed solidarity with affected families and pledged support during this challenging time.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended condolences to the families of the victims and urged investigative action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Organizations like Gift of the Givers have mobilized resources to support rescue efforts providing sustenance and aid to emergency responders.
Over 100 emergency personnel and responders mobilized to the scene working through the night to locate and rescue trapped individuals.
Using sniffer dogs and tall spotlights to aid in the search rescue teams faced the challenging task of navigating through wreckage and massive concrete slabs to reach survivors.
As of the latest update, 26 out of the 75 construction workers present at the time of the collapse have been pulled from the rubble while 49 others remain unaccounted for.
Among those rescued 21 individuals have been transported to various hospitals with at least 11 of them sustaining severe injuries requiring urgent medical attention.
The injured have been classified according to South Africa’s triage procedures with 11 individuals listed in “red” condition indicating critical injuries, while others are categorized as needing “yellow” or “green” care.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, with police opening a case to determine the circumstances leading up to the event. While initial reports indicate no immediate information on the cause.
Also Read: AI Apps can Recreate Deceased Loved Ones and Its a threat to Mental Health
