Following the retrieval of three bodies from the collapsed building site at 75 Victoria Street this morning, rescue operations persist, marking a week since the tragic incident occurred.
The three-story building, which was still under construction, collapsed, initiating an extensive rescue effort that has spanned 163 hours.
While rescue workers and other stakeholders remain focused on the ongoing rescue efforts, the municipality issued a statement addressing the challenges encountered in identifying the deceased individuals. “We are experiencing difficulties in obtaining accurate names of individuals missing or deceased due to the building collapse.
We urgently request families who have lost contact with their loved ones to come to the George Civic Centre on York Street,” the statement emphasized.
Police Minister Bheki Cele and Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola visited the site on Sunday to assess the situation. Minister Cele highlighted that while investigations are underway, the primary focus remains on the rescue operation. “As law enforcement, we cannot preempt what might have happened.
Also read: “No Resolution Can Change Our Stance On Homosexuality” – United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
That would be wrong. Our main focus now is to get people out of the rubble,” Cele affirmed.
During their visit, Cele and Masemola also interacted with families of the victims at a local community hall. Expressing dismay, Minister Cele noted the absence of the contractor’s engagement with the affected families. “It is inhumane that the contractor had not visited the families to at least sympathize with them.
I’ve got a feeling there is not much cooperation in the matter. For now, everybody should be working together,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for collective efforts in managing the aftermath of the tragedy.
For comments, Feedback and Opinions do get in touch with our editor on WhatsApp: +27 82 836 5828
