Rescue operations at the George building collapse site on Victoria Street are concluding today, marking the end of a nine-day search and recovery effort.
George building collapse: What are the latest updates?
The latest update from the Garden Route District Joint Operations Centre (JOC) and George Municipality indicates that rescue and recovery operations at the collapsed building on 75 Victoria Street will cease today.
Access to Victoria Street remains restricted from York Street.
Rescue workers and other role-players have been on-site for a total of 259 hours.
Initial estimates suggested 81 individuals were present at the time of the collapse.
As of now, 62 individuals have been rescued or recovered, resulting in a 54.8% rescue rate.
Tragically, 33 people have been confirmed deceased, with four still awaiting formal identification. Among the survivors, 29 individuals are either alive or hospitalised.
The site will soon be handed over to the Department of Labour and Employment, which will continue the formal investigation into the incident.
What are rescuers doing to remove the rubble?
Throughout the nine-day operation, rescuers employed a combination of heavy machinery and manual labour to clear the rubble.
The primary goal was to safely remove debris while maintaining the possibility of finding survivors.
Specialised equipment, including thermal imaging cameras and sniffer dogs, was used to locate individuals trapped beneath the debris.
The operation faced significant challenges, including ensuring the stability of the remaining structure and preventing further collapses.
Rescue teams, comprising members from SAPS, local fire departments, and private security firms, worked tirelessly to navigate these obstacles.
As the search efforts conclude, the focus now shifts to supporting the families of the victims and ensuring a thorough investigation of the incident.
The public is urged to respect the privacy of those hospitalised and recovering from the collapse.
Authorities have requested that the media and general public refrain from speculation regarding the cause of the collapse, as official investigations are underway by SAPS, the Department of Labour, the Department of Infrastructure, and an independent structural engineering firm appointed by the Western Cape Government.
In addition to the ongoing investigations, the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) is providing comprehensive post-incident support to affected families.
A dedicated desk at the George Town Hall is available to assist family members and close relatives of the contract workers involved in the collapse.
Services will be available for a minimum of six months, offering psychosocial support to both rescue and non-rescue personnel.
Companies linked to George building collapse
The development of the collapsed building involved several entities, each responsible for different aspects of the project:
- Neo Victoria Developments Pty Ltd. – They owned the land where the building was constructed. This means they provided the space for the building to be built.
- Neotrend Developments Pty Ltd & East Africa Development Pty Ltd. – These companies managed the entire building project. They organised everything from planning what the building would look like to deciding when and how the building process would happen.
- Liatel Developments Pty Ltd. – As the main contractor, this company was in charge of the actual construction work. They directed the day-to-day building activities, hiring workers, and making sure construction went according to plan.
- Mitchell & Associates – They worked as the structural and civil engineers and also as the principal agent. As engineers, they focused on making sure the building was designed to be strong and stable. As the principal agent, they were the main communicator between the construction team and the project owners, overseeing all details of the project’s progress.
- Deon van der Westhuizen Architects cc – This firm was responsible for designing the building. They created the plans that showed how the building should look and function once finished.
- Matla Quantity Surveyors Pty Ltd. – This company handled the financial side of the construction. They measured and kept track of all materials and labour used to build the building to make sure everything stayed within budget.
- 4Front Safety and Security Consultants Pty Ltd. – Their job was to oversee health and safety on the construction site. They made sure that all safety rules were followed to protect workers from accidents.
- Clinkscales Maughan-Brown Pty Ltd. – They were the electrical engineers. Their role was to plan and oversee all the electrical installations in the building, ensuring that the wiring and electrical systems were safe and functional.
- Duane Hodges Consulting Engineer – Specialised in fire engineering, this engineer ensured that the building had proper fire safety measures, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, and safe evacuation routes.
