A construction accident occurred in a coastal city in South Africa when a multi-story apartment building collapsed, causing injuries to 22 workers and trapping over 40 others on Monday afternoon.
The incident took place in George, about 400 kilometers east of Cape Town.
Rescue efforts involving 80 personnel are underway, with additional support from nearby cities, George Municipality spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose confirmed.
A total of 70 people were believed to be working on the new apartment building when it collapsed, but that was an early estimate, Edwards-Klose said.
The Western Cape government is actively involved in monitoring and providing resources for the emergency response.
“All the necessary support has been offered to emergency personnel to expedite their response. At the moment, officials are focused on saving lives. This is our top priority at this stage,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the head of the provincial government, said in a statement.
Disaster Service teams from George and Garden Route District Municipality were assisted by SAPS in the rescue operation.
The collapse occurred just after 2 pm today, with a construction crew of approximately 70 on site. 22 patients have been retrieved and sent to hospitals throughout the province.