Johannesburg – Rescuers and onlookers cheered and applauded on Saturday as a survivor was rescued after 116 hours from underneath the rubble of a collapsed building in George, Western Cape, with the tragedy having killed at least 13.
“It is a miracle that we have all been hoping for” provincial premier Alan Winde said on X.
It is the miracle that we have all been hoping for. Rescue teams have found an individual alive and are in communication with him. It will take some time to reach him, but I am so grateful for the teams for tirelessly working to rescue those trapped on the site. 🥺👏… pic.twitter.com/68VmYW7KTG
— Premier Alan Winde (@alanwinde) May 11, 2024
An apartment block under construction in the southern city of George crumbled Monday afternoon while a crew of 81 were on site.
“When we went down to the side of the slab we had uncovered, we heard somebody inside and we stopped all the heavy operations,” Colin Deiner, head of rescue operations, told reporters.
Rescuers then called out to the survivor and he spoke back, Deiner said.
“He indicated to us that he’s got weight on his legs, and we’re very concerned about that after such a long period of time.”
After several hours, the survivor was extricated and rushed to a hospital.
Rescue teams have been working against time ever since the structure came crashing down.
Twenty-nine people have been rescued alive while thirty-nine remained unaccounted for.
Winde said a “difficult” identification process was underway and that police were using fingerprints, DNA testing and photographs.
Construction plans for a 42-unit apartment block had been approved by the city in July.
The reasons for the collapse are still unknown.
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@alanwinde
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