A multi-story apartment building being constructed in a coastal city in South Africa collapsed on Monday, resulting in the deaths of two construction workers and trapping 53 others under the debris, according to authorities.
An additional 20 workers were rescued from the collapsed structure and were receiving medical treatment for their injuries at various hospitals, city officials reported.
The collapse occurred around 2 p.m. in George, a city located approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of Cape Town along South Africa’s southern coast.
Over 100 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene, where they were expected to work throughout the night with the assistance of sniffer dogs in search of survivors, some of whom were feared to be trapped under large concrete slabs.
Cranes and heavy lifting equipment were dispatched to aid in the rescue efforts, and additional emergency responders were being mobilized from nearby towns and cities, with their arrival anticipated around midnight.
At the time of the collapse, there were 75 workers present at the construction site, and concerned family and friends gathered at municipal offices nearby awaiting updates, as reported by the municipality.
Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the tragedy, with police opening a case, though no immediate information was available regarding the reason for the sudden collapse of the building.
Marco Ferreira, a local representative of the non-governmental organization Gift of the Givers, was present at the site with a team to provide support, food, and beverages to the rescuers. Gift of the Givers, known for its disaster relief efforts in South Africa, had also supplied three sniffer dogs and handlers to assist in the search and rescue operation, Ferreira confirmed.
“The situation at this stage is still very much in the rescue stages,” Ferreira told the eNCA TV news channel. “We don’t know, it’s probably going to carry on for days. There are some cranes there to help lift some concrete. But it’s not a pretty sight.”
Details regarding the injuries sustained by the workers transported to hospitals were not immediately disclosed by authorities. However, South African media outlets reported that several workers had sustained severe injuries. The George municipality confirmed that the two workers who tragically lost their lives were pronounced dead after being admitted to hospitals.
“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait on word of their loved ones,” George Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk said.
The provincial Western Cape government said it was closely monitoring the situation and had sent resources to assist with the emergency response.
“All the necessary support has been offered to emergency personnel to expedite their response. At the moment, officials are focused on saving lives. This is our top priority at this stage,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the head of the provincial government, said in a statement.
