Survivors of George building collapse assisting with identifying colleagues' bodies - MEC Bredell

GEORGE - A difficult reality is settling in George.

Survivors of Monday's fatal building collapse are helping to identify the bodies of their colleagues who died in the fold. 

Thirty-eight construction workers are still unaccounted for.

Eight fatalities have been reported, with the death toll expected to rise.

READ MORE:

• George building collapse: 'Crush syndrome, biggest injury risk' - Disaster chief amid intense rescue efforts
• Contractors of collapsed George building ‘fully committed’ to assisting authorities as rescue efforts ramp up

There was a very different mood on the ground on Thursday morning, with the hope of the 72-hour rescue window beginning to fade.

The generic barricade tape has been replaced by police tape and crime scene investigators have moved in.

This follows the retrieval of another from the rubble on Wednesday night. 

The MEC responsible for disaster management, Anton Bredell, said survivors are assisting with identifying their colleagues.

“The  seven (code) green people we got out alive, we took them to the disaster centre to help with the identification. They’ve supplied photos and can tell us the clothes that some people wear. They compiled that list.” 

Western Cape Disaster Chief Colin Deiner said the operation has shifted a gear.

“This building has provided a whole range of challenges from a rescue perspective. Although we went at high risk to save lives over the last two days, our own people’s safety is important to us. The stage we’re in now is long and difficult.

"We are in a phase now of rescue equipment to demolition equipment. That doesn’t mean we have to change from rescue to recovery but we have to change the equipment. It’s going to be a slow and careful job, it’ll take many hours. Our commitment is still for the first three days to stay in a rescue mode.”

The reality is there has been no sign of life coming from under the rubble mound for several hours. 

Specialist earth-moving machinery has arrived from Cape Town, and the long, tactical demolition is under way.