George building collapse: Shouts and a cellphone call from beneath the rubble

Shock, grief, and hope hang in the air on the scene of a tragic building collapse in George, Western Cape, as over 100 emergency personnel work to rescue about 47 trapped construction workers.

As of Tuesday morning, six people had died and 28 had been rescued and taken to hospital.  

Ten of the injured are believed to be in serious condition.

Those who arrived on the scene shortly after the collapse said they heard voices shouting from under the rubble.

ALSO READ: George building collapse: We have to find out why this happened, says Alan Winde

11 of those were on Tuesday morning still trapped, four in a basement, with rescuers working hard to release them.

“We heard people shouting through the rubble,” emergency services told the media on Tuesday.

They said one man had called his wife from within the wreckage. He was located but has not yet been rescued.

“During the night it was reported to us that a person who was trapped was calling his wife. We put that person in contact with his employer who was on the scene.

“We were concerned about battery life because rescues like this take many hours. So we had an agreement that he would turn on his cellphone at certain times to save battery life”.

It was reported that around midnight authorities asked for quiet on site, and requested those trapped to tap on any object they could reach.

Watch video from the scene of the collapse:

Speaking to The Citizen‘s sister publication, the George Herald, MMC for community safety Marais Kruger called it “one of the most tragic events to ever hit George”.

Family of the trapped being ‘given space to gather’ near the scene

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the families and friends of the construction workers involved in the incident have been given space to gather in the foyer of the main municipal building.

ALSO READ: George building collapse: Six dead, dozens still trapped under rubble

There they are being assisted by social workers.

The municipal building is opposite the scene of the tragedy and was closed on Monday as a safety precaution.

Roads heading to the building and scene of the collapse have been closed.

An army of volunteers

Multiple Disaster Service personnel, including South African Police Service Search and Rescue teams with sniffer dogs and emergency teams from the City of Cape Town and Breede Valley Local Municipality have joined rescuers on site.

They have been split into three teams to search three separate areas.

Kruger thanked the army of rescuers and volunteers that rushed to the scene.

“Volunteers are still on the ground helping to carry out bricks [from the debris] and constructors have given up their equipment to help. There is a lot of food and water, and people helping.

“The most beautiful part is everyone pulling together, giving and sharing their hearts. I really want to thank them”.

Watch a video of the moment the building “disappeared” amid its collapse:

Here’s how you can help

Mayor Leon van Wyk said anyone who wished to provide drinking water, Lucozade, wine gum, or any food for emergency services workers can deliver to the tent site via Ivy Street at 79 Victoria Street, Delplan Consulting.

WATCH: Dozens believed to be trapped in collapsed George building

This is being manned by Gift of the Givers and Herman Pienaar of LoveGeorge.

For further enquiries and offers to help, you can call Gift of the Givers’ Mario Ferreira on 082 490 2752 and Pienaar on 082 829 6428.