Update
GEORGE NEWS - Rescue efforts continue to be the primary focus at the collapsed George building site, with teams being on-site for over 187 hours.
According to George Municipality, plans are being put in place to expedite the identification of the deceased to bring closure to families. This is done by Forensic Pathology Service and SAPS.
Fingerprints, DNA testing and photographs of unique markings, such as tattoos and clothing, are some of the methods being used to identify the deceased.
To date, six of the deceased have been positively identified.
Since the first call for support by Psychosocial Support Practitioners was put out on 11 May, adequate numbers of fluent practitioners in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona languages are all on-site to address the emotional, social, and overall mental health needs of those affected by the building collapse.
Thank you for standing with us during this critical time.
At the time of publishing, confirmed statistics are:
- Total estimated individuals on-site when the incident occurred: 81
- Rescued and recovered: 61 of which 32 are deceased
- Currently hospitalised: 12
- Unaccounted for: 20
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