Updated 14.47 | Published 14.23
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full screen The rescue service no longer believes that anyone can be found alive under the rubble under the collapsed house in George, South Africa. Picture from 7 May. Photo: AP/TT
After twelve days, the rescue service finishes its work at the collapsed house in George, South Africa. 33 people have so far been confirmed dead, but the total number is expected to rise to over 50 when the rescue work is completed.
A total of 19 people are still missing, according to local authorities. But the rescue service no longer expects to find anyone alive.
The incident is seen as one of South Africa’s worst building collapses. At the time, construction work was underway on the house and 81 workers were working on the site, when the house collapsed for reasons still unknown.
29 survivors have been rescued from the mobs, several of them are still being cared for in hospital. A man was found alive after being without food and water for six days, according to the rescue workers, he had only suffered minor injuries.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the collapsed building on Thursday to show his support for the victims’ families and rescue workers.
More than 600 rescue workers and other personnel have been involved in the search for the collapse, working day and night in shifts to try to find survivors.
Many of the construction workers were from other countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.