At least five people perished while 49 are unaccounted for after a multi-story building fell in South Africa.
Emergency operations are ongoing, with a total of 26 individuals being extracted from the wreckage following the collapse of a structure in the Western Cape region around 2 p.m. on the 18th. According to a press release issued by George Municipality, there are currently three separate rescue crews attending to three distinct regions within the collapse site.
A spokesperson for South African Head of State Cyril Ramaphosa expressed sadness in a statement released yesterday, conveying sympathy towards the bereaved relatives and those whose kin are currently pinned under the debris. In addition, the President also requested an independent inquiry into the circumstances that led to the incident, with the expressed purpose of providing resolution to the affected community and safeguarding against a similar tragedy occurring in the future.
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The tragic incident in South Africa has drawn global attention, with concerns being raised about building safety in Africa as a whole. The world is hoping for a swift and successful rescue operation and a thorough investigation into the causes of the building collapse.
Source: edition.cnn.com
