MEDIA STATEMENT: 9pm Update on Building Collapse Site

Issued by the Garden Route District JOC/George Municipality, 11 May 2024, 21:00

With the rescue workers continuing with rescue and recovery efforts, an update of confirmed statistics as operations enters the 127th hour at 21:00 on 11 May 2024 as follow:

Confirmed Statistics:
– Total individuals on-site during the incident: 81
– Rescued: 43
– Deceased: 14
– Currently hospitalized: 14
– Unaccounted for: 38

The Joint District Operations Centre follows a stringent double verification protocol to ensure the accuracy of reported numbers, working in close collaboration with recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.

We are pleased to announce that Mr Guambe is recovering well and will be reunited with his family by Monday, 13 May 2024.

In our ongoing efforts to assist survivors and their families, we urgently call for professional psychosocial support practitioners proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona languages. Interested practitioners can contact Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205.

An update will be issued by 6am on Sunday 12 May 2023.