Collapsed

Three people were transported to hospital on Thursday when a portion of Karaglen SuperSpar’s ceiling collapsed.

The incident occurred at around 2pm.

Paramedics from Emer-G-Med stabilised injured patients before they were transported to various hospitals.

Mr Harry Karamichael, from Karaglen SuperSpar, was in-store when the collapse happened and said it sounded like thunder.

“We did not know what was happening. It was only after the dust had cleared that we realised a section of the ceiling collapsed,” he said.

Ms Andrea Henderson posted on Karaglen SuperSpar’s Facebook page that she walked into the store when the ceiling crashed down.

“I was passing the magazine rack when this huge noise started. I looked up and saw the ceiling starting to collapse. It was hugely traumatic, the noise and the screams,” said Ms Henderson.

She joined hundreds of other residents in wishing those injured a speedy recovery.

Ms Jennifer-Rose Clackworthy, whose 79-year-old father was among those injured in the collapse, said he was discharged from the Edenvale Hospital the same night, due to space constraints at the hospital.

“He has a concussion, several broken ribs, a slight fracture to one of his vertebra and many cuts and bruises,” said Ms Clackworthy.

She added that her father was recovering at home and was booked to see a specialist on Monday.

The store released a statement on its Facebook page, which confirmed the incident.

“We can confirm that this afternoon a portion of Karaglen SuperSpar’s ceiling collapsed. We can also confirm that the collapse was not a structural collapse,” the statement read.

Management of the store thanked paramedics from Emer-G-Med, emergency services from the Edenvale Fire Department, Chaplain Vaughn Grantham and the officers and management from the Edenvale SAPS for their assistance.

Several crews worked throughout the night to clear the rubble and secure the building.

“We aimed to be open by 10am on Friday. At 9am an engineer approved the building as structurally sound.

“The integrity of the building’s structures was not compromised during the collapse,” said Mr Karamichael.

@EdenvaleJourno