UPDATE: 3 June 2015, 17:50pm – A witness to the ceiling collapse at Sandton City has described how when she heard the sound of the collapse, she thought it was an earthquake and ran away from the noise in an attempt to find cover.
She said the area around the collapse filled with dust and after she realised that a portion of the ceiling had given way, she and the other people in the area tried to see if anyone was injured.
She confirmed one shopper was injured and that the woman looked as though she was in her 20s. She said paramedics quickly removed her from the scene on a stretcher. She believed the injured woman was transported to a local hospital.
She said there were not many people in the vicinity of where the ceiling collapsed at the time of the incident. She said after the incident many people rushed to the scene to see what had happened and to assist. The witness further speculated that the collapse may have been caused by renovations that are underway in the mall but this has not yet been confirmed.
The witness said she was shaken by the incident but that she was glad to be safe.
Sandton Chronicle journalist Khanyisile Ngcobo said the scene was very dusty and the building rubble was still on site. At 5.30pm she said contractors were still on site and inspecting the damage.
UPDATE: 3 June 2015, 17:10pm – Sandton Chronicle journalist Khanyisile Ngcobo is at the scene and said no one is allowed in the vicinity of the collapse. She said it was being guarded by security.
It is reported that ER24 attended to the injured shopper and that she sustained a cut and possibly fractured her ankle. She was reportedly transported to hospital.
UPDATE: 3 June 2015, 16:30pm – Sandton City has since released a statement regarding the incident.
Julie Hillary, general manager at Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square said, “We can confirm that a small portion of the vertical ceiling collapsed on the walkway between Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square at about 3.10pm. One customer was injured and is receiving medical attention. The relevant parties were called immediately and this area has been securely cordoned off. We would like to assure our customers that the safety and security of all shoppers and tenants is of paramount importance. Determining the cause of this incident is our number one priority and it will be thoroughly investigated.”
Initial report: 3 June 2015, 16:27pm – According to reports, a bridge has collapsed at the Sandton City shopping mall.
It is believed the collapse occurred near the Nelson Mandela Square in the mall. According to unconfirmed reports, a woman was seen being stretchered out of area. Emergency services are currently at the scene and it is also reported that the debris is being cleared up.
Below are some tweets about the incident:
#SandtonBridge A woman has been treated. She left the mall on a stretcher. Not yet clear what her condition is. pic.twitter.com/OEr1WM0BoH
— Mia Lindeque (@MiaLindeque) June 3, 2015
#SandtonBridge Staff members are already cleaning up the scene.
ML pic.twitter.com/IsVRbbRX8t— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 3, 2015
#SandtonBridge Paramedics are here at Sandton City where the roof of a bridge collapsed.
ML pic.twitter.com/tHhKIwIocZ— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 3, 2015
https://twitter.com/A_Man_Of_Note/status/606101100953927682
https://twitter.com/A_Man_Of_Note/status/606101331850321920
Zuma's engineers RT @ewnreporter #SandtonBridge The roof collapsed. Now waiting for management to respond. They are not a to the scene.
ML— Dr_Narri (@Narril_dihno) June 3, 2015
@ewnreporter which part of the mall is this? Mandela Square side?
— Tshepiso Mokhema (@_Tshepz_) June 3, 2015
“@ewnreporter: #SandtonBridge Paramedics are here at Sandton City where the roof of a bridge collapsed.
ML pic.twitter.com/dSB8fXXgtp” ????— regulation hottie (@lastbwoy) June 3, 2015
