George building collapse tragedy: What we know so far

George Municipality has confirmed that six people have now been declared deceased.

Twenty-seven people have been removed from the rubble of the collapsed multi-story building at 75 Victoria Street, and 48 people are unaccounted for.

Seventy-five construction workers were on the site at the time of the collapse, which occurred at 14:09 yesterday.

At 12:00 today, the rescue operation had been underway for 22 hours.

The municipality will issue another update at 15:00.

Watch: Premier Alan Winde addresses the media. Video: Ilse Schoonraad, George Herald:

Timeline of events

Monday, May 6 

14:09

The first reports of the collapsed building start to filter through. The number of people on-site is not confirmed.

15:50

Unconfirmed reports say that more than 20 construction workers were on-site when the building collapsed. This figure is later changed to 75.

17:48

At least 70 construction workers were on site at the time of the collapse. Twenty-two people have been retrieved and sent to hospitals throughout the area.

21:00

Fifty-three of the 75 construction workers are unaccounted for. The first two deaths are confirmed. One person died on the scene, and the other one in hospital.

23:52

Another body has been retrieved. George Herald reports that over 111 emergency and disaster personnel and two sniffer dogs are on-site to locate and retrieve the 52 people still unaccounted for.

Tuesday, May 7

04:00

MMC for Community Safety Marais Kruger speaks to George Herald about the amazing volunteers at the scene.

05:15

The death toll is four. George Municipality confirms 20 rescues. Fifty-one people are still unaccounted for.

09:00

Another death is reported, bringing the total to five fatalities. Another survivor is rescued, bringing the total to 21 people rescued from the rubble. Forty-nine people are still unaccounted for. George Mayor Leon van Wyk confirms that there has been some communication with people trapped in the rubble.

11:30

Another death is reported, bringing the total to six fatalities. Twenty-one people have been rescued from the rubble, leaving 48 people are unaccounted for.