Rescue and recovery efforts continued into the tenth day following the George building collapse, as officials and emergency personnel worked tirelessly at the disaster site.
George building collapse: What are the latest updates?
The George Municipality, along with the Garden Route District Joint Operations Centre, provided an update early this morning, marking the start of day ten since the building at 75 Victoria Street collapsed.
As of now, rescue workers have spent 232 hours on-site.
The collapse initially involved 81 individuals. So far, 62 have been rescued or recovered, with 33 confirmed deceased (27 males and 6 females), 12 hospitalised, and 19 still unaccounted for.
RelatedPosts
Up to this point, 47 victims have been linked to their families through a stringent double verification protocol.
This process ensures the integrity and accuracy of the reported numbers, involving cross-referencing information from recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.
The community has been actively supporting emergency personnel by donating supplies such as drinking water, energy drinks, wine gums, and food.
Donations are being coordinated through AFM Soteria Church and the Gift of the Givers organisation.
Today, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, along with several National and Provincial Ministers, are visiting the disaster site.
A media briefing is scheduled for 13:00 at the George Municipality Civic Hall.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development has also committed to providing ongoing support services to affected families for at least six months.
What are rescuers doing to remove the rubble?
Rescue teams have been meticulously working to clear the rubble from the collapsed building site.
Their approach involves a combination of heavy machinery and manual labor to safely remove debris while ensuring the possibility of finding more survivors.
The effort is a collaboration between various emergency services, including SAPS, local fire departments, and private security companies.
The rescue operation has been challenging due to the extensive damage and the need for careful maneuvering to prevent further collapses.
Teams are using specialised equipment like thermal imaging cameras and sniffer dogs to locate any remaining individuals under the debris.
The process is slow and methodical, prioritising the safety of both the rescuers and any potential survivors.
As the operation progresses, the community’s support has been vital.
Emergency personnel have received donations of food and supplies, helping to sustain their efforts during this prolonged and intense operation.
The focus remains on recovering all missing individuals and providing closure to their families.
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.
