…Trapped man texting family as search for missing goes on
At least six people have died and 48 so far unaccounted for after a multi-story building collapsed Monday afternoon in the South African city of George, officials said Tuesday.
Rescue missions remain underway, and 26 people have been removed from the rubble since the building collapsed in the Western cape province around 2 p.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) on Monday, George Municipality said in a statement.
“Three teams of rescue personnel are currently working on three different areas within the site of the collapsed building,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, among those still trapped under rubble after a five-storey building collapsed in South Africa is Delvin Safels, who was on one of the lower floors when the structure collapsed, his father Dion told the BBC.
Rescuers have traced Delvin’s location, but are struggling to reach him.
The 29-year-old has been sending voice notes to his parents and girlfriend, telling them how much he loves them.
He is in pain, with an arm and a leg pinned down, and it is cold and dark.
“I believe my son will come out alive,” his father Dion said.
He has been camping nearby since Monday, hoping that his son would emerge. He vacillates between despair and hope.
The rescue operation is estimated to take four to five days, with 111 emergency personnel on site, the Western Cape Government said Tuesday.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences in a statement from his office Tuesday, saying, “The President’s thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones as well as the families of close to 50 people who are trapped in the rubble.”
Ramaphosa also called for an investigation into how the incident happened, to “bring closure to the community and prevent a repeat of this disaster.” the statement said.
CNN
