George building collapse: Rescue operations to wrap up, Labour Dept to begin investigation
The five-storey building, which was still under construction, caved in more than a week ago, trapping a reported 81 people.
Seventy-five construction employees were on site when the multi-storey apartment complex collapsed in George on Monday 6 May 2024. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
GEORGE - Workers are expected to wrap up the rescue and recovery operation at the collapsed building site in George on Friday.
After 259 hours, workers are set to hand over the site to the Department of Labour to begin its investigation.
The last two sections of the site are expected to be cleared on Friday.
The five-storey building, which was still under construction, caved in more than a week ago, trapping a reported 81 people.
Sixty-two workers have been recovered, 33 of whom have died.
Nineteen others are still unaccounted for.
“Of the deceased still to be formally identified is four, and alive and/or hospitalised is 29. The garden route district Joc/George municipality are finalising preparations for the Department of Labour and Employment to take over the building collapse site to continue their formal investigation," said George municipality spokesperson Chantel Edwards.
Edwards has urged the public to refrain from spreading rumours about the cause of the incident.
"Speculation and possible causes by unofficial 'experts' could impact negatively on the official investigation."
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Meanwhile, the Malawi High Commission is helping victims and families affected by the tragedy.
The victims are from South Africa, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
"There were a number of problems, we tried to assist stakeholders in terms of identification and verifying nationalities for Malawians. We have also tried to offer psychosocial support in line with our culture back home, and we are still trying to offer assistance depending on a case-by-case basis," said Deputy High Commissioner at the Malawi High Commission in South Africa, Panji Chirwa.
This comes as the rescue and recovery operation entered its eleventh day on Friday, with officials saying the number of rescue workers had significantly decreased to 150.