Two more bodies have been recovered from the collapsed construction site in George, bringing the total number of fatalities to 13. A total of 40 people are still unaccounted for.
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Anton Bredell, the Western Cape Local Government MEC, told George Herald that rescue teams are trying to work faster by using large construction machines to remove the rubble.
‘We are working towards hard-to-reach locations and this takes time. Teams are working very carefully and methodically. I must stress this is a search and rescue operation with a recovery component.’
Water pumps are on standby to pump water from the cavities in case of rain. Rescue teams have also been pumping oxygen into the cavities if there are more survivors.
As per the George Municipality, the rescue operations reached 111 hours as of 6am, 11 May 2024.
Confirmed statistics:
- Total estimated number on-site at the time of incident: 81
- Patients retrieved: 41
- Patients deceased: 13
- Patients hospitalised: 13 still in hospital
- Unaccounted: 40
Nearly 700 emergency and disaster management officials and volunteers have attended the site since rescue efforts started.
MMC for Community Safety Marais Kruger told George Herald that the whole scene had been declared a crime scene by the South African Police Service. As a result, it is protocol to get as ‘little as possible’ volunteers on the site.
‘I’m really sorry but it’s protocol. We can’t do anything about it,’ he said, adding that should the need arise for more volunteers, they will be called in for assistance. ‘I want to say thank you to every person who volunteered, and when we need you, we will contact you.’
City of Cape Town Firefighter Rescue Technicians, who have been on site since Monday, returned home yesterday.
‘The rescue operation continues to be a multi-agency approach, involving local excavation contractors, the District Roads Engineer and a large-scale demolition company,’ says JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security.
‘Rescue techniques will still be applied meticulously and sensitively by the highly skilled and experienced disaster management team.’
Also read:
Day 5 update: Death toll rises to 12 at George construction site
Picture: George Municipality / Facebook