George, South Africa: Building collapse leaves three dead and dozens trapped

CNN
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Authorities said rescue efforts were underway after a multi-story building under construction collapsed in the South African city of George, killing three people and leaving dozens trapped.

Twenty-four people were rescued from the site and taken to hospitals, the municipality of George, a coastal town east of Cape Town, said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to a statement from George Parish, 51 people remained trapped.

“It was confirmed that 75 members of the construction crew were on site at the time of the incident,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said previously.

CCTV footage obtained by Reuters showed a cloud of dust as the building collapsed on Monday afternoon.

“I saw a man working and then ‘boom’ and I saw the whole building collapse… I’m traumatized too. It’s very sad,” Theresa Jeyi, a local councilor, told reporters at the scene.

The provincial government said police and rescue teams with sniffer dogs were on site.

Rescue workers on the scene were trying to remember where they heard people shouting, George mayor Leon van Wyk told the SABC, while rescue equipment was on the way.

“This is going to be a really long exercise and probably last all night,” he said.