Rescue operations at the collapsed building on Victoria Street in George continue into the fifth day, with teams working relentlessly as the situation progresses.
UPDATE: Of the 81 workers trapped in the rubble, 40 have been rescued, 12 are deceased, 33 are hospitalised with 13 are in critical condition. Unaccounted persons total 41.
George building collapse: What are the latest updates?
As of the early hours of Saturday, 11 May 2024, another victim was tragically recovered from the rubble at 02:36, increasing the confirmed death toll to 13.
The George building collapse, which occurred five days ago, has now seen 41 individuals rescued from the site, with 13 of these patients still receiving hospital treatment.
With 40 people still unaccounted for, the urgency of the rescue operations has not diminished.
The Garden Route District Joint Operations Centre (GRDM JOC) has announced that another update will be provided later this morning.
The community’s response in terms of volunteering and donations has been robust, leading disaster management to place additional volunteer offers on a waiting list due to the overwhelming turnout.
What are rescuers doing to remove the rubble?
Rescue teams are utilising demolition equipment to navigate and clear the debris carefully at the collapsed site.
This approach is necessary to safely reach any individuals who may still be trapped under the collapsed structure.
The complexity of the operation is considerable, given the scale of the debris and the potential risks to both the rescuers and any survivors still within the structure.
To facilitate these efforts, the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has declared the incident site a No-Fly Zone to ensure the safety and efficiency of the operations.
This restriction is strictly enforced, with penalties for any violations, ensuring that rescue efforts are not hindered by external disturbances.
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.
