Rescue efforts are underway in South Africa’s coastal city of George following the collapse of a multi-story apartment complex on Monday afternoon. As of early Tuesday, the death toll has risen to five, with 49 workers still buried under the rubble.
The collapse occurred in George, approximately 400 kilometers east of Cape Town, trapping dozens of construction workers under mangled concrete. Emergency personnel have been tirelessly working through the night, using sniffer dogs and heavy lifting equipment to locate and rescue survivors.
Colin Deiner, Chief Director of the Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Services, described the operation as challenging due to the large amount of concrete obstructing access to trapped workers. Despite the difficulty, rescuers remain hopeful of bringing out the 11 workers they’ve made contact with.
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Authorities reported that 21 workers have been rescued and taken to hospitals, with several sustaining severe injuries. The collapse has sparked an investigation into its cause, with no immediate information available.
The George municipality has deployed three teams of rescuers to different sites around the collapsed building. Family members and friends anxiously await news at the nearby municipal offices as the rescue operation continues.
Gift of the Givers, a local NGO providing support during disasters, has contributed sniffer dogs and handlers to aid in the search effort. Marco Ferreira, a representative of the organization, emphasized the ongoing rescue phase and the grim outlook of the situation.
The provincial Western Cape government has dispatched additional resources to assist in the operation, with Premier Alan Winde emphasizing the priority of saving lives. The national government is closely monitoring the situation as rescue efforts persist.
