Residents in George, in the Western Cape, say the deadly collapse of the construction building gives them sleepless nights.
At least seven people have lost their lives in the tragedy.
The five-storey construction building came tumbling down on 75 workers who were on site on Monday afternoon.
So far, 29 of the workers have been rescued from the rubble. Sixteen of them are in critical condition, while six others suffered life-threatening injuries.
Thirty-nine of their colleagues remain trapped underneath the rubble.
Community members say this incident is one of the worst tragedies they’ve ever seen in George.
One resident, who has three of his relatives still trapped under the rubble, says the wait is unsettling.
“We are devastated about the news, we have been camping outside the site, we don’t know what is happening, and authorities try to give us updates now and again.
“We have requested that authorities supply us with the images of those people who were rescued, however, authorities say they cannot do that now, so we wait in hope.”
The Western Cape government has pleaded with the public to refrain from spreading false information on what may have caused the building collapse.
The MEC for Local Government in the Western Cape, Anton Brudell, says they will decide tomorrow morning on whether the scene will be declared a recovery site.
He says they have about 200 emergency services personnel available on-site, including teams from Gauteng who have offered their services.
[IMAGE OF THE BUILDING BEFORE]
[IMAGE OF THE BUILDING AFTER]
President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased workers.
Deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of the 5 people who have died in an incident where a building collapsed in George in the southern Cape. pic.twitter.com/Nj3jXJPXcn
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 7, 2024
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