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Search and rescue teams were using sniffer dogs on Monday to help find and retrieve 53 construction workers trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in George.
In an update at 9 pm, the Municipality also confirmed that two of the 22 people who were retrieved from the debris earlier, had died.
The other injured workers were taken to hospitals and clinics around George.
Municipality spokesperson, Chantelle Edwards, said the incident occurred on Victoria Street after 2 pm, where 75 workers were confirmed to have been on site.
She also said additional emergency personnel travelling from the City of Cape Town and Worcester Disaster Services, as well as the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Services, were expected to be on the scene before midnight.
“At present over 100 emergency and other personnel are on site,” she said.
The Municipality has made a facility available at the main municipal building for family and friends of the workers, who will also be assisted by social workers from the Department of Social Services and Correctional Services.
George Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk has expressed his sincere condolences on behalf of George Council and the municipal administration to the family and colleagues of the deceased.
"Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected who continue to wait on word of their loved ones,” he said.
Representatives from Gift of the Givers and LoveGeorge were staffing a tent site where members of the public wishing to assist could drop off items such as drinking water, Lucozade, wine gums, or any food for the emergency services members.
Following the collapse of a multi-storey building under construction in Victoria Street this afternoon, Disaster Service teams from George and Garden Route District Municipality are currently involved in the rescue operation. SAPS are on site.https://t.co/tRn8wGpD4V
— George Municipality (@george_mun) May 6, 2024
