The tragic building collapse in George has claimed the lives of 13 individuals, as the rescue operations enter their fifth day.
The site of the collapsed building, located at 75 Victoria Street, continues to be the focus of a meticulous and systematic rescue and recovery approach by multiple agencies involved in the operation.
The primary objective is to clear the rubble methodically, to uncover any potential voids or open spaces where individuals may still be trapped.
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According to a recent statement released by the Garden Route District Joint Operations Center (JOC) in collaboration with the George Municipality, the rescue and recovery operation has now been ongoing for a total of 115 hours.
It has been estimated that there were 81 individuals present at the site when the building collapsed.
So far, 41 patients have been successfully rescued and are receiving medical treatment, while 13 people have been hospitalized due to their injuries. Regrettably, there are still 40 individuals who remain unaccounted for.
The joint district operations centre and the George Municipality place great emphasis on maintaining accurate and reliable information regarding the rescue and recovery efforts.
To ensure the utmost accuracy, a rigorous double-verification protocol is followed when reporting the number of individuals rescued and recovered. This involves close collaboration with the recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.
On Friday, the municipality made the difficult decision to introduce heavy-duty demolition equipment to aid in the rescue efforts. This decision was not taken lightly, as the safety of emergency personnel is of paramount importance.
The stability of the site has been a constant concern, and the demolition company has taken great care to create a safe path for vehicles to drive over the area. Additionally, any voids that have been identified have been thoroughly checked for any potential entrapped victims before being filled in.
Rescue techniques continue to be applied meticulously and sensitively at each phase of the operation. The rescue teams are working tirelessly to ensure that every effort is made to locate and rescue any individuals who may still be trapped within the rubble.
In an ongoing effort to provide support to the survivors and families affected by this tragedy, a call has been made for professional psychosocial support practitioners who are proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona languages.
These practitioners are encouraged to reach out to Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205 to offer their assistance.
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