– South Africa building collapse rescue efforts
– Death toll increase in South Africa building collapse.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
A man raises his hand as rescue workers carry him to an ambulance after being rescued, having survived 118 hours after a deadly building collapse in George, South Africa May 11, 2024. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Rescue teams in South Africa are continuing their efforts to find more survivors as the death toll from the collapse of an apartment building under construction has risen to 32, a week after the tragic incident in George on the country’s south coast.
Hopes were raised when a construction worker was found alive over the weekend after spending six days without food and water in the rubble of the collapsed building. However, the death toll has also continued to climb, with at least 11 more bodies recovered from the debris on May 13. An additional 20 workers are still missing, raising concerns that the final death toll could surpass 50.
More than 600 emergency services and personnel have been involved in the search for survivors in the wreckage of the unfinished five-story building that collapsed on May 6. Of the 81 workers on-site at the time, 29 have been rescued, with 12 still in hospital in critical condition.
The city of George has emphasised that the operation is still focused on rescue rather than recovery, highlighting the miraculous survival of a 32-year-old construction worker, Gabriel Guambe, who was trapped for 118 hours in the rubble and sustained only minor injuries.
Rescuers are hopeful that more survivors may be found in voids within the ruins of the building, where gaps in the concrete could have provided pockets of safety. Cranes and heavy machinery are being used to clear the debris, with sniffer dogs also aiding in the search efforts.
Many of the workers affected by the collapse are foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, making communication and identification of victims challenging. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, including scrutiny of the construction company’s adherence to safety protocols.
As a mark of respect for the victims, people have begun leaving flowers at the site, and a moment of silence was observed at 2.09 p.m. on Monday, the exact time of the building collapse. Rescuers stood in solidarity near the collapsed building to pay tribute before continuing their arduous work.
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– Death toll rises in South Africa building collapse
– Rescue efforts boosted by survivor in South Africa building collapse.
