On Monday, May 6th, in the afternoon a multistorey building collapsed at 75 Victoria Street in George, leaving 5 dead, 25 recovered from the rubble, and 49 still unaccounted for.
Photograph: Herman Pieters, GRDM Communications Manager
Rescue operations
The privately owned building was being worked on and collapsed at 2:30 pm with 75 construction workers on site.
The community got together along with emergency services to search for and tend to the injured. The emergency site has received emergency service workers from as far away as Worcester, and the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers is currently on site with their rescue dogs to locate those still trapped under rubble. It is reported that
Premier Alan Winde of the Western Cape provincial government said, “At the moment, officials are focused on saving lives. This is our top priority at this stage.” According to a George municipality update last night, 53 emergency personnel were on their way from the City of Cape Town and Worcester Disaster Services. Chief Director of Western Cape Disaster Services Colin Deiner will also arrive on site.
Supplies
Anyone wishing to leave supplies such as drinking water, energy drinks and food can drop them off via Ivy Street, at 79 Victoria Street for emergency service workers. A municipal worker will be there to collect donations.
Government responses
Premier Alan Winde has already briefed MECs and has said the ongoing allocation of emergency services is underway.
The DA’s constituency head in George, MP Mimmy Gondwe, said “The DA in George would like to thank the emergency personnel for their swift response to this tragic incident and will keep monitoring the situation to offer any form of assistance and support.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended condolences to the families of those who died in the George building structure collapse and has issued a statement calling for a full investigation into the collapse once the emergency has ended.
