GEORGE, SOUTH AFRICA – A building under construction in the coastal city of George, approximately 400 kilometers east of Cape Town, South Africa, collapsed around 2 p.m. Monday. The collapse resulted in the death of two construction workers, and 53 others are buried under the rubble, according to local authorities.
Reports suggested that an additional 20 survivors were extracted from the debris. These individuals are currently receiving medical treatment in several local hospitals.
Over 100 emergency personnel, including sniffer dogs, were dispatched to the site to aid in the rescue operation, extending late into the night. Rescue efforts were further supported by cranes and heavy lifting equipment provided by the George municipality.
When the structure gave way, a total of 75 workers were present at the construction site. In the aftermath of the disaster, relatives and friends gathered at local municipal offices awaiting news of their loved ones.
While an official statement as to what triggered the collapse is yet to be released, local authorities are conducting an investigation, supported by a case opened by the police.
No details were immediately given regarding the condition of the injured workers taken to hospitals following the collapse, but some reports have suggested their injuries are serious. The two fatalities were pronounced dead post-admission to area hospitals.
The Western Cape provincial government also voiced its concern, stating that rescue efforts and saving lives are its top priorities.