Update:
In its latest update, George Municipality confirmed that two of the 22 patients retrieved from the collapsed building have been declared deceased.
Additionally, the confirmed number of construction crew on-site at the time of the incident increased from 70 to 75.
According to the municipality, multiple Disaster Service personnel are currently involved in a rescue operation to retrieve 53 trapped construction workers from the structural collapse.
The personnel include SAPS Search and Rescue teams with sniffer dogs.
‘Emergency personnel on their way from the City of Cape Town and Worcester Disaster Services as well as the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Services are expected to be on-site before midnight tonight,’ George Municipality added. ‘At present, over 100 emergency and other personnel are on site.’
The municipality also said that family and friends of the construction workers involved in the incident who have gathered in the foyer of the main municipal building – adjacent to the collapsed building – will be assisted by Department of Social Services and Correctional Services social workers.
In the update, Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk expressed his sincere condolences on behalf of the Garden Route district’s council and the municipal administration to the loved ones of the deceased.
‘Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait on word of their loved ones,’ said Alderman Van Wyk.
The municipality also requested that those wanting to provide donations to the emergency services deliver to the tent site via Ivy Street at 79 Victoria Street, Delplan Consulting.
The tent site is being manned by Gift of the Givers and Herman Pienaar of LoveGeorge.
‘For enquiries to give, please contact Gift of the Givers – Mario Ferreira (082 490 2752) and Herman Pienaar (082 829 6428),’ the update concluded.
Picture: George Municipality / Facebook
Update:
In its latest update, George Municipality confirmed that there were approximately 70 construction crew members on site when the multi-storey building under construction in Victoria Street collapsed on Monday afternoon.
CCTV footage in the vicinity shows the building collapsed at approximately 2:09pm.
’22 patients have been retrieved and sent to hospitals throughout the province,’ said the municipality. ‘Currently, the rescue operation remains underway with over 80 rescue personnel on site.’
The City of Cape Town and Worcester Disaster Services has sent 53 emergency personnel to assist at the scene alongside Western Cape Provincial Disaster Services Chief Director Colin Deiner, who will be on-site as soon as possible.
Teams from Gift of the Givers are also on-site to assist.
Meanwhile, family and friends of the construction workers involved in the incident are being given space to gather in the foyer of the adjacent main municipal building while they wait for updates. For their comfort and convenience, they will be provided with assistance and support.
Taking to social media, George Municipality offered members of the public an address for those wishing to give donations to the emergency service teams.
‘Should any member of the public wish to provide drinking water, Lucozade, wine gums or any food for the services while they are on-site – they must please deliver via Ivy Street at 79 Victoria Street, Delplan Consulting,’ said the municipality.
‘A municipal official will be on hand in front of this building to collect any contributions to distribute to the service officials.’
A further update will be issued at around 9pm this evening.
Picture: Gift of the Givers / Facebook
Instagram picture: George Municipality / Facebook
Emergency services are on the scene in an effort to rescue ‘multiple patients’ believed to be trapped in rubble after a five-story building collapsed in George on Monday afternoon.
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The multi-storey accommodation building was under construction on Victoria Street.
Emergency services respond to structural collapse in George https://t.co/ZWOLTINST7#ArriveAlive #StructuralCollapse @ER24EMS pic.twitter.com/dJXWFd8Svg
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 6, 2024
The Garden Route District municipality released an urgent notice, notifying the public that the street would be blocked to accommodate the rescue efforts currently underway.
‘A building under construction in Victoria Street has collapsed. The public is urgently notified that access to Victoria Road is blocked from York Street,’ said George Municipality on Facebook. ‘Emergency services are on site and a number of ambulances will be required to enter the area due to multiple patients.’
The municipality also urged the public to please refrain from trying to view the incident and allow access to emergency vehicles. George Herald who is on the scene, reported that chaos had erupted in the immediate area, with onlookers trying to get a glimpse of the structural collapse.
Video captures moment building collapsed in Victoria street, George Emergency services respond to structural collapse in George https://t.co/4bozlhqpYz#ArriveAlive #StructuralCollapse @GeorgeHerald @ConstructionSfy pic.twitter.com/h3szJteJK5
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 6, 2024
In its latest update, the publication added that unconfirmed reports state more than 20 construction workers were inside the building when it collapsed. At this stage, the extent of their injuries is not clear.
Emergency teams from Worcester and Cape Town, as well as a crane from Mossel Bay, have been sent to assist with rescue efforts.
George Mayor Leon van Wyk told George Herald: ‘The building seems to have collapsed onto its own underground parking area, leaving only a small rubble mound visible above ground level’.
Before and after pics of the building site that collapsed in George https://t.co/5eIPKxO9aA #ArriveAlive #StructuralCollapse @GeorgeHerald @ConstructionSfy pic.twitter.com/XRLF1y1Fau
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 6, 2024
It was not immediately clear what had led to the collapse.
George Municipality has closed its main building, which was adjacent to the collapsed building, as a safety precaution until further notice.
This is a developing story.
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Picture: @_ArriveAlive / X