The George Municipality has recently confirmed the devastating news that the death toll in the building collapse incident has now reached 24. This tragic event has shaken the community, and rescue workers have been tirelessly working on site in Victoria Street for a full week in the hopes of retrieving more workers.
At the time of the incident, there were 81 workers present on site. Thankfully, 50 workers have been rescued and recovered, while 15 are currently hospitalised. However, there are still 28 workers who remain unaccounted for, and the primary focus of the rescue efforts continues to be on finding and saving them.
The rescue operations have been ongoing for over 160 hours, with emergency services working tirelessly to support the rescue efforts. The dedication and commitment of these personnel have been commendable, with no reported injuries among the rescue workers or volunteers since the start of operations.
The George Municipality is proactively setting up plans to expedite the identification process of the deceased. In collaboration with the Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), they aim to fast-track this process to bring closure to the affected families.
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On Monday, the pathology service will be on site to assist with the identification process. The municipality spokesperson, Chantel Edwards, emphasised the importance of this fast-tracking process, stating that it not only helps bring closure to families but also offers other benefits in the aftermath of this tragedy.
The George Municipality extends its heartfelt thanks to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) teams at the site for their dedication in keeping the rescue workers safe. As an additional safety measure, each participating company has assigned OHS officers to ensure safety at the scene.
Furthermore, the municipality has called for professional psychosocial support practitioners proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona languages to assist survivors and their families. The urgent need for these practitioners highlights the emotional toll this incident has taken on the affected individuals, and their support is crucial during this difficult time.
Several practitioners have already offered their services, but more are welcome to reach out to Ms Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Mr Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205 to provide their assistance.
The national Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, will be visiting the site at 12:30 pm to assess the situation and offer support. Additionally, the national Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, will be on-site at 3 pm.
These visits from national officials demonstrate the gravity of the incident and the importance of providing the necessary resources and assistance to the George Municipality during this challenging time.
As the rescue operations continue, the entire community stands in solidarity with the affected families, hoping for the safe recovery of the remaining workers and finding answers to prevent such tragedies in the future.
