MEDIA STATEMENT: 6:00 pm Status Update – Building Collapse, Victoria Street – George

Issued George Municipality, 9 May 2024, @ 7:50 pm

George Municipality confirms that figures remain unchanged at this point, 6:00 pm 9 May.

Big earth-moving machinery is expected to arrive this evening to assist in the rescue and clearing efforts. The machinery includes two five (5) ton excavators, three (3) 20-ton excavators with hammers and buckets, and a three (3) cube front-end loader, as well as trucks for extraction and clearing. The rescue operation continues to be a multi-agency approach, involving local excavation contractors and the District Roads Engineer.

Despite the introduction of large machinery, rescue techniques will still be applied meticulously and sensitively by the highly skilled and experienced disaster management team.

Executive Mayor Alderman Leon van Wyk expressed his appreciation for the exemplary work done by the multi-disciplinary emergency teams so far. He commended rescue workers and all involved stakeholders, organisations, the media, and the public stating that their efforts, along with the state-of-the-art equipment brought in, have resulted in a world-class rescue effort.

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

The rescue operation has reached 75 hours, as of 6:00 pm 9 May.

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

On-site Triage Description
Blue: Deceased
Red: Critical
Yellow: Life-threatening injuries
Green: Minor injuries

Note: Medical Status of patients is not disclosed. The status given is as at recovery from the incident site.

Photo by: Garden Route District Municipality