In a coastal city in South Africa, a multi-story apartment building under construction collapsed on Monday, resulting in the death of two construction workers and trapping 53 others under the rubble.
Authorities reported that an additional 20 workers were rescued from the wreckage and are receiving treatment for injuries at various hospitals.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. in George, located about 400 kilometers east of Cape Town on the south coast of South Africa.
Emergency personnel, including sniffer dogs, are working tirelessly at the site, with more than 100 responders deployed and additional support expected to arrive from nearby towns and cities.
Cranes and heavy lifting equipment have been mobilized to aid in the rescue efforts.
Seventy-five workers were present at the building site during the collapse, according to the municipality.
Meanwhile, family and friends gathered at the nearby municipal offices, anxiously awaiting updates on the situation.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the tragedy, and police have opened a case, although there is currently no immediate information available regarding why the building collapsed.
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 drink to the rescuers.
Gift of the Givers, a charity known for its disaster relief efforts in South Africa, had also deployed three sniffer dogs and handlers to assist in the search, Ferreira stated.
“The situation at this stage is still very much in the rescue stages,” Ferreira informed 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.”
Authorities did not immediately provide details of the injuries sustained by the workers taken to hospitals, but South African media reported that several had suffered serious injuries.
The two workers who tragically lost their lives were declared deceased after being admitted to hospitals, as confirmed by the George municipality.
“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait for word on their loved ones,” expressed George Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk.
The provincial Western Cape government affirmed its close monitoring of the situation and dispatched resources to support the emergency response.
“All necessary support has been extended to emergency personnel to accelerate their response.
“Presently, officials are focused on saving lives, which is our top priority,” stated Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, head of the provincial government.
Winde also mentioned that the national government was being briefed on the ongoing rescue operation.
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