Rescue efforts are underway in South Africa following the collapse of a five-storey building under construction in the city of George, Western Cape province. The incident has claimed the lives of four individuals and left more than 50 people trapped beneath the rubble.
According to officials, 24 individuals have been rescued from the wreckage and transported to hospital for treatment. The collapse occurred at 14:09 local time, with 75 construction crew members reported to have been on site at the time of the incident.
George Mayor Ald Van Wyk said, “Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait for word of their loved ones.”
The cause of the collapse, which occurred in the coastal city located approximately 450km east of Cape Town, is currently under investigation. Emergency services swiftly responded to the scene to commence search and rescue operations.
Despite the challenging circumstances, rescuers have managed to establish contact with some of those trapped beneath the rubble. Over 100 rescuers, aided by sniffer dogs and heavy lifting equipment, have been tirelessly working to locate and extricate survivors from the collapsed structure.
Photos of the flattened construction site have emerged, depicting the magnitude of the devastation caused by the collapse. Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene, with one local councillor expressing shock and sadness over the incident.
As the rescue operation continues, authorities remain focused on providing support to the families affected by this tragedy, while efforts to safely recover those still trapped underneath the debris persist.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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