A multi-story apartment building under construction in George, South Africa, crumbled on Monday afternoon, May 5, leaving a devastating scene in its wake.
As of May 14, 20 individuals remain unaccounted for, while 13 are receiving medical care in hospitals. Thirty-three have been confirmed dead.
Rescue efforts continue with emergency workers battling to locate and free the remaining construction workers believed to be trapped under the tons of concrete and debris.
Race Against Time to Find Survivors
The collapse occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time in the coastal city, situated roughly 250 miles east of Cape Town. Distressing drone footage captured the dust cloud billowing as the structure gave way.
“I saw one guy working and then ‘boom’ and I saw the whole building collapsed… I’m also traumatized. It is very sad,” Theresa Jeyi, a local councilor who witnessed the incident, told reporters.
With nightfall approaching and the possibility of survivors trapped under heavy debris, the rescue effort became a race against time. Over 100 emergency personnel, including sniffer dog teams, were deployed to the scene. Cranes and other heavy lifting equipment were also being brought in to assist with the delicate operation.
“The situation at this stage is still very much in the rescue stages,” said Marco Ferreira, a local representative of the Gift of the Givers, a South African disaster relief charity providing aid to rescue workers. “We don’t know, it will probably last for a few days. There are some cranes there to help lift some concrete. But it’s not a pretty sight.”
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
Families Await News in Anguish
As the rescue operation unfolded, family members of the missing workers gathered at a nearby municipal building, desperately waiting for any news about their loved ones.
“Our thoughts are with the families and all those affected by the disaster as they continue to wait on word of their loved ones,” said George Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk.
The Western Cape provincial government mirrored those sentiments and confirmed it was closely monitoring the situation while supplying additional resources to bolster the rescue efforts.
A Community in Shock
The collapse sent shockwaves through the local community. The George Municipality released a statement expressing its condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured workers. They added that their disaster management teams, ambulances, and police were on the scene and working tirelessly alongside emergency responders.
Local media reported that the building under construction was believed to be a multi-story apartment block. The exact number of stories remains unconfirmed. According to the George Municipality spokesperson, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, the structure looked like it had four or five floors.
There were conflicting reports about the number of workers on the site at the time of the collapse. Reuters reported that 75 workers were present, whereas some South African media outlets placed the figure at 50.
Miraculous Rescue of Young Father
A couple shared the joyful news of their son’s rescue from the debris with the BBC.
Delvin Safers, 29, is one of the several individuals who have been rescued, as the effort to locate others missing continues.
Delvin’s distressing situation gained widespread attention across South Africa through the poignant voice messages he sent to his loved ones, expressing his deep affection for them and voicing his fears about not surviving.
Dion Safers, his father, recounted to the BBC his own panic, which subsided only after receiving a call late on Tuesday from a rescuer who reported Delvin’s discovery.
This breakthrough came when a search dog barked, signaling the rescue team, who managed to drill through concrete and eventually saw his hand.
Dion mentioned, “They provided him with chocolate, water, a mask, and a pair of safety glasses.”
Delvin’s mother, Delmarie, shared with the BBC how they motivated Delvin by sending him a photo of his two-year-old son, Zyar, encouraging him to maintain a hopeful outlook.
“It was effective. It truly made a difference,” she remarked.
In a voice note to his girlfriend Nicole, Delvin, speaking in Afrikaans and fighting back tears, mentioned, “My love, my phone’s battery is nearly gone. It was turned off, and I’ve only switched it on now to see.”
He also expressed his fatigue and hope for a quick rescue, saying, “I’m utterly drained. I’m exhausted in every way.”
All victims, including Delvin, were employees working on the construction site.
Delvin sustained severe bruising to his face and body and was initially unable to walk; however, he has since regained some mobility.
Dion expressed his frustration about the collapse of a new structure, insisting on accountability and legal action for those responsible, “It’s unbelievable. Someone needs to face justice for this,” he asserted during his conversation with the BBC.
A Long Road to Recovery Looms
Emergency workers face the monumental task of sifting through the debris in a meticulous search for survivors while working against the clock and the ever-present possibility of finding more fatalities.
Even those who are fortunate enough to be pulled from the wreckage are likely to face a long and arduous road to recovery, both physically and emotionally. The psychological impact of such a traumatic event can be profound.
The collapse has also ignited concerns about building safety standards in South Africa. There have been calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident to ensure such tragedies can be prevented in the future.