The bodies of 32 people have been recovered as rescue efforts continue into week two of the incident at 75 Victoria Street, where a partially constructed building collapsed. Rescue workers and other players have been on the scene for 184 hours.
Also read: Death toll rises to 21 after building collapsed in George
It is estimated that 81 people were on the scene when the incident occurred. To date, 61 people have been rescued or recovered, including 32 who died and 12 who are currently hospitalised. Nearly two dozen individuals remain unaccounted for.
The primary focus remains on rescue efforts. With this in mind, rescuers are proactively developing plans to expedite the identification of the deceased. This is carried out by the Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS). Fingerprints, DNA testing, and photographs of distinctive markings such as tattoos and clothing items are among the methods used to identify the deceased. Forensic Pathology Services are not limited to the Victoria Street Disaster in George, but also to other cases that occur daily.
It is confirmed that six of the deceased were positively identified; this information was also entered into the system.
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‘We are experiencing difficulties in obtaining accurate names of individuals missing or deceased due to the building collapse,’ read a statement for the George Municipality. ‘We urgently request families who have lost contact with their loved ones to come to the George Civic Centre on York Street. This will enable the Department of Social Development to collect detailed and precise information, ensuring that all records are accurately documented.’
The Joint District Operations Centre must follow a stringent double verification protocol to ensure the integrity and accuracy of reported deceased numbers, which is critical in emergency and disaster response scenarios. This verification process entails cross-referencing data from multiple credible sources, including recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.
There is still an urgent need for professional psychosocial support practitioners fluent in Chewa, Portuguese and Shona to assist survivors and their families. Several practitioners have already offered their services, and others are encouraged to contact Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205.
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Also read:
George building collapse: Death toll rises to 30, recovery efforts persist
Picture: George Municipality/ Facebook