MEDIA STATEMENT: 6am Status Update – Building Collapse, Victoria Street – George

Issued George Municipality, 9 May 2024, @ 6:30am

The Garden Route District Joint Operational Centre established for the Victoria Street Building Site collapse has updated the figure for those present on site at the time of the incident on Monday 6 May. This follows intensive discussions and scrutinization of the safety records  with the responsible contractors. The contractor has now confirmed that the number of workers on site at the time of collapse was 81. (previously reports as 75).

Total Number on site at time of incident:               81
Patients retrieved:           37
Patients blue:                    8 (deceased)
Patients red:                      16 (critical)
Patients yellow:                6 (life-threatening injuries)
Patients green:                  7 (minor injuries)
Unaccounted:                    44

The rescue operation is at 64 hours as of 6:11 this morning, 9 May.

Rescue efforts have continued overnight. The emergency response team is implementing more substantive concrete breakers and additional trucks to remove building rubble from the site.

An update will be issued by 9 am on Thursday, 9 May 2024, – South African Time.