Western Cape – Executive Mayor of George, Leon Van Wyk, reported that around 39 individuals remain missing following the collapse of a five-story apartment building in George. The incident has already resulted in seven confirmed deaths, with several others sustaining injuries.
Rescue efforts continue as teams carefully navigate through the debris and concrete. However, concerns are growing that time may be dwindling for those trapped since Monday.
“It’s becoming very difficult to get access to others. It’s a race against time because, internationally, the norm is 72 hours, and after 72 hours, it moves from rescue to recovery. So we’ve got the rest of today and into tomorrow to try and see how many more people we can get out of that rubble.”
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There is no News Yet on What Caused the Building to Collapse
Van Wyk disclosed that various investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the collapse. These include probes by the Department of Labour, SAPS, and a team of consulting engineers commissioned by the provincial government.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the cause, Van Wyk emphasised that the current priority is the ongoing rescue operations and supporting the families affected. He reassured the public that all possible efforts were being made to find survivors.
“I’m just struck every single time coming on site again and looking at the extent of this rescue operation and the professionalism of what has been done. I believe it’s really world-class work that has been done. The type of equipment that has been brought in from Cape Town and the Western Cape to come and assist here is highly appreciated and certainly indicates that the team here knows exactly what they are doing. They’re acting with absolute precision in how they undertake this exercise.”
During his interview, Van Wyk also praised the community, local businesses, and humanitarian organisations for their collective efforts to assist in any way possible during this tragic period.
