Two dead, scores injured after George building collapsesTwo dead, scores injured after George building collapses

• Published date: 07 May 2024
• Publication title: Herald, The (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

Tragedy struck in George yesterday as a multi-storey building, still under construction, collapsed, claiming at least two lives and sending scores of people to hospital

The building, believed to have been a block of flats in the making, caved in at about 2pm in Victoria Street.

About 75 construction crew members were on site at the time. Police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said emergency personnel were still busy with a search-and-rescue operation last night.

“An inquest docket was opened after the body of a man [was] retrieved from the debris,” he said.

Another person was declared dead at hospital, bringing the total fatalities to two.

“The search-and-rescue operation is ongoing.

“Multi-disciplinary search-and-rescue teams [are assisting].

“These teams will be co-ordinated by EMS specialists from a joint operational centre.”

The building is next to the George local municipality’s main offices in York Street.

The municipality said yesterday afternoon that as many as 53 emergency personnel were on their way from the Cape Town and Worcester disaster services, as well as Colin Deiner from the Western Cape provincial disaster services.

“The collapse occurred just after 2pm today [yesterday], with a construction crew of approximately 75 on site.

“Twenty-two patients have been retrieved and sent to hospitals throughout the province. Currently, the rescue operation remains under way with over 80 rescue personnel on site.”

It also said family and friends of the construction workers involved in the incident were given space to gather at the foyer of the main municipal building...