Five people were killed and at least fifty more were left trapped when a five-story building that was under construction collapsed in South Africa. Rescue crews are still looking for survivors.
According to George, Western Cape province officials, twenty-four victims have been extracted from the debris and transported to medical facilities.
The structure fell on Monday afternoon when about seventy-five work members were present.
The occurrence in the seaside city is being looked into as to what caused it.
At 14:09 local time (12:09 GMT), the structure fell, prompting emergency personnel to arrive on the scene.
Two of the 22 people pulled from the wreckage died of their injuries. Another threedeaths were reported later.
“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait for word of their loved ones,” said George Mayor Ald Van Wyk.
Scent-seeking dogs were used by over a hundred rescuers to search for those who were confined to the building during the night. The operation is being assisted by heavy lifting equipment.
Authorities reported that they had managed to get in touch with a few people who were buried beneath the debris.
Images of the demolished construction site have surfaced, revealing sections of the building’s roof resting on the debris.
“I saw one guy was working and then ‘boom’ and I saw the whole building collapsed… I’m also traumatised. It is very sad,” local councillor Theresa Jeyi was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
(BBC)
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