Reports indicate that the collapse of a five-storey apartment block under construction in South Africa has resulted in the deaths of five individuals, with at least 50 people trapped beneath the rubble.
Approximately 26 individuals have been rescued from the wreckage and hospitalised, while dozens remain trapped. Emergency workers have been diligently removing debris bit by bit since Tuesday morning, with the team leader periodically calling for silence in the hope of detecting signs of survivors, although some alerts have turned out to be false alarms.
Currently, the majority of workers who were present at the site before the collapse remain unaccounted for, and the process of extracting survivors has been notably slow. According to reports, two individuals rescued from the debris succumbed to their injuries, and medics have confirmed three additional fatalities.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to the families of the deceased workers, emphasising the need for a thorough investigation into the collapse to provide closure to the affected families.
Over 100 sniffer dogs have been deployed to aid in locating those trapped in the rubble, with officials estimating that at least 75 workers were on the site at the time of the collapse. An investigation into the cause of the building collapse has been initiated.