South Africa concluded rescue operations at a collapsed building site in George on Friday, May 17th, after revising the initial estimate of people present during the accident.
The tragedy, which occurred on May 6th, involved an under-construction five-story building. At least 33 people were confirmed dead, while rescue teams managed to pull 29 survivors from the rubble during a 260-hour search and rescue effort.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to hold those responsible accountable. The investigation now takes center stage.
Authorities initially estimated 81 people, primarily construction workers, were at the site based on information provided by the contractor. However, after the rescue operation concluded, the figure was revised down to 62. The George municipality confirmed that most of those involved were foreign nationals from neighboring countries.
Four victims remain unidentified, and 10 survivors are still receiving treatment in hospitals. The collapse site has been designated a crime scene and is now under police control.
Premier Winde commended the rescue workers for their valiant efforts, highlighting a 54.8% rescue success rate, which he claimed is significantly higher compared to international averages for similar incidents.
The cause of the building collapse is yet to be determined. The building was approved for construction and planned to house 42 apartments. Investigations are underway to identify the reasons behind the devastating accident.
