Three people are believed to have died when a trench collapsed as a result of construction work on Sandown Road, Sunningdale. The trench collapsed just after 5pm on Monday evening opposite a Builder’s Warehouse.
“The sand fell on top of them while they were inside the trench,” said City of Cape Town spokesperson Jermaine Carelse.
The situation grew even more perilous when a pipe burst and began flooding the collapsed trench.
A team worked for hours attempting to save the victims, but grew fearful that it would become a recovery mission instead of a rescue. A fourth person is yet to be accounted for.
“We have everybody on the scene, including a chaplain,” Carelse said while the mission was ongoing last night.
Two road closures were put in place on Sandown and Sunningdale roads following the incident, and Basil Stone and Sunningdale roads were also closed in both directions.
All roads were reopened this morning.
A motor vehicle accident on Victoria Road has caused the road to be closed between Houghton Road and Bakoven. Two cars were involved in the crash and one caught alight.
It is reported that one of the drivers fled the scene.
One woman and two men were seriously injured, and the road closures remain in place.
Pictures: Supplied
