Police to investigate the four deaths at Ballito construction site
The men had been building a gabion retaining wall when the steep bank collapsed.
KwaZulu-Natal Saps have launched an investigation into the deaths of four labourers at a construction site in Zen Drive, Ballito, yesterday morning.
“Information at police disposal at this stage indicates that fourteen construction workers were at the bottom of the escarpment, building a gabion retaining wall when the wall collapsed and buried five workers underneath,” said police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
Rescue efforts spanned the entire day and were complicated due to further collapses of the embankment.
Four bodies and the sole survivor were eventually removed from the soil and rubble they were buried under.
“One worker was found alive, about six hours after the collapse of the wall. Inquest dockets have been opened for investigation.”
According to Netshiunda, the circumstances that led to the collapse of the wall also form part of police investigations.
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