George, South Africa – A horrific building collapse in George, South Africa, has left seven people dead and nearly 40 construction workers missing. The tragedy has prompted a massive rescue operation, national mourning, and urgent investigations to determine the cause of the disaster.
“We’ve recovered 36 people, of which, unfortunately, seven are deceased,” said Leon van Wyk, the Executive Mayor of George, during a press briefing. “There are still 39 that are unaccounted for, buried somewhere in the rubble behind us. So, the rescue part is still continuing with the operation, but at the same time, what the teams are now doing are preparing for recovery.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his deepest condolences to the families impacted by the building collapse and pledged full support for the rescue efforts and investigations. Authorities from the police, provincial government, and the national department of labor are working together to ascertain the root cause of the collapse.
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Families Hold Onto Hope While Rescue Efforts Continue
At the site of the devastation, families and friends of the trapped workers gather, clinging to hope and supporting each other. “Truly it is very painful, yeah, it is very painful because as a human to be under the ground it is very painful,” said Zebron Mhone, a relative of a missing worker. “But with faith in God, we still have faith that she will come out.”
Rescue crews continued their tireless search on Wednesday, employing underground cameras and specialized sniffer dogs. The operation has drawn disaster response teams from surrounding areas.
Details of the Disaster
The unfinished five-story apartment complex collapsed on Monday, triggering the urgent rescue effort. Out of the 29 people extracted from the wreckage, 16 remain in critical condition, and six have life-threatening injuries. Around 75 workers were present at the construction site during the collapse.
Heavy lifting equipment has been brought in to move massive concrete slabs, while rescuers diligently remove smaller debris by hand. Some survivors were able to contact their loved ones using cell phones while trapped, aiding in the search effort.
The anguish of families and friends at the scene is palpable as they anxiously await news. The ongoing work of the rescue teams offers a sliver of hope amidst the tragedy.
Source: Africa News