The tragic incident of the George building collapse has left the nation in shock and mourning as the death toll rises to 16. This devastating event occurred when an apartment block under construction collapsed on Monday, trapping 81 workers under the rubble.
Amidst the despair, there was a glimmer of hope on Saturday morning when a man, now identified as 33-year-old Gabriel Guambe, a tiler, was miraculously discovered underneath the debris after 116 hours of being trapped.
The rescue team had heard sounds coming from what they believed to be the third floor of the building. In a heartwarming video shared by the municipality, Guambe expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m okay now, everything is okay. Thank you, god bless you guys.”
[ Tragic Building Collapse In George Death Toll Rises To 13 ]
Authorities provided an update on Guambe’s condition, stating that he is recovering well and has remarkably sustained only minor injuries. They also mentioned that he is in good spirits.
The rescue team located Guambe after hearing sounds from under the debris, and he was eventually pulled out hours after being discovered.
The rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing on the sixth day at the site of the collapsed building at 75 Victoria Street. As of 09:00 on May 12, 2024, marking the 139th hour of operations, the confirmed statistics are as follows:
- Total individuals on-site during the incident: 81
- Rescued and recovered: 45
- Deceased: 16
- Currently hospitalized: 14
- Unaccounted for: 36
The joint district operations center follows a stringent double verification protocol to ensure the accuracy of the reported numbers. This meticulous process involves close collaboration with recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services to provide reliable information.
In response to this tragic event, the National Minister of Police, Mr Bheki Cele, is scheduled to visit the site later today for an official briefing. His presence signifies the importance and seriousness with which the government is addressing the situation.
The minister’s visit will provide an opportunity to assess the ongoing efforts, express condolences to the affected families, and offer support to the rescue and recovery teams.
As the nation mourns the loss of lives and hopes for the safe recovery of those still unaccounted for, we must come together as a community to support the affected families and honour the heroic efforts of the rescue teams.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
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