Tragic Multi-storey Apartment Building Collapse in South Africa Leaves Five Dead and Over 40 People Trapped

Tragedy Strikes: Multi-Storey Building Under Construction Collapses in South Africa

In a devastating incident, a multi-storey apartment building under construction in the city of George, South Africa, collapsed, resulting in the loss of five lives and leaving over 40 people trapped under the rubble.

The collapse occurred in the afternoon, with rescue efforts ongoing throughout the night to locate and save those still trapped.

Lives Lost and Trapped: Five Dead, Dozens Buried Under Rubble

The catastrophic incident occurred shortly after 2 p.m. in Cape Town’s southern coastal city of George. A cloud of dust enveloped the neighborhood as the building’s concrete structure and surrounding metal scaffolding came crashing down.

Multi-storey Apartment Building Collapse in South Africa Leaves Five Dead and Over 40 People Trapped (Image Credit: Sky News)

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, present at the scene, revealed that 75 construction crew members were confirmed to be on-site at the time of the collapse.

The city officials in George reported that 49 people remain trapped, while 21 have been rushed to various hospitals, with at least 11 of them sustaining severe injuries.

Race Against Time: Rescue Efforts Intensify to Save Trapped Workers

Following the building collapse over 100 emergency personnel, including rescue teams and sniffer dogs were immediately dispatched to the scene.

The emergency personnel tirelessly worked through the night, aided by tall spotlights, in an attempt to locate and extricate the trapped workers. Three teams were deployed to different areas of the collapsed building site, focusing on areas where construction workers were believed to be located.

Rescue efforts faced significant challenges as some workers were feared to be trapped beneath large slabs of concrete. Heavy lifting equipment and cranes were brought in to facilitate the removal of debris and aid in the rescue operation.

Encouragingly, rescuers made contact with 11 trapped workers, raising hopes of safely extracting them. However, some of the workers remained immobile due to limbs trapped under the concrete.

Colin Deiner, the chief director of the provincial Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Services, acknowledged the complexity of the operation.

Deiner emphasized the arduous nature of the task, likening it to “searching for a needle in a haystack,” where responders must meticulously break through concrete and cut through reinforcing materials to reach those trapped

The search operation is still ongoing as the emergency team endeavours to rescue the trapped people while there is still time.

Investigation Underway: Authorities Probe Causes of Building Collapse

Meanwhile, authorities have since initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the building collapse. The police have opened an investigation into the incident, although no immediate information is available regarding the underlying reasons for the sudden collapse.

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