Tragedy Strikes: Death Toll in George Building Collapse Rises to 24

• Tragedy struck in George, Western Cape, when a building collapse claimed 24 lives, with 28 still missing
• The families of missing workers gathered at the George Town Hall while authorities worked tirelessly to identify the deceased and missing
• Police have uncovered gaps in information surrounding the tragic building collapse

The tragic event that occurred in the Western Cape, has taken a graver turn as the number of people who have died as a result of the George building collapse has risen to 24.

The region has been in a state of agony and confusion since the catastrophe and 28 people are still missing as the community struggles to cope with the destruction.

In addition, 13 survivors are still in hospitals getting treatment as they battle to survive.

Read also

Death toll in George building collapse rises to 30 as officials call for Shona speaking counselor

What you need to know about the George Building Collapse

• A building in George, Western Cape collapsed on the afternoon of 6 May 2024 and the contractor was difficult to reach
• The total estimated individuals on-site when the incident occurred was 81, according to the Western Cape official update
• So far, at least 53 people have been rescued and recovered, of which 24 are deceased, 13 currently hospitalised and 28 are unaccounted for
• Rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing into the second week after the collapse

Fast-tracking the pathology process

In a statement, the George Municipality noted that with the primary focus remaining on rescue operations, the Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are proactively working to streamline the identification process.

Read also

South Africans in dismay as George building collapse death toll rises to 30

The aim is to provide closure to grieving families anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.

"Due to the building collapse, we are experiencing difficulties obtaining accurate names of missing or deceased individuals. We urgently request families who have lost contact with their loved ones to visit the George Civic Centre on York Street.

"This will enable the Department of Social Development to collect detailed and precise information, ensuring that all records are accurately documented."

The next update is scheduled to be issued by 12pm on 13 May 2024.

How many people were inside the collapsed George building?

According to the Mail & Guardian, Cele revealed that the contractors involved in the George building collapse have not been forthcoming with information to aid with the police‘s investigation.

"We're currently investigating several discrepancies. As law enforcement, we've determined that there's uncertainty surrounding the exact number of individuals present here. The figures we do have account for those hospitalised, rescued, and, unfortunately, those who have passed away."

Read also

George Building Collapse: 28 People Still Unaccounted for, Families Asked to Identify Workers

Cele has urged the George families to be patient while the investigation continues:

Miracle in George building collapse as worker survives

In a similar report, Briefly News noted that a man has been rescued in the George building collapse after being stuck under rubble for 118 hours.

The search has entered day six after the almost complete building collapsed on 81 workers who were on site. According to the Western Cape government, the survivor had been successfully extracted from the debris after being stuck for hours.

Source: Briefly News