GEORGE NEWS - Monday 6 May 2024 will forever be etched into the hearts and memories of the people of George.

It was the day the under-construction Neo Victoria block of flats on Victoria Street collapsed without warning, claiming the lives of 34 people and injuring many more. In the immediate aftermath, the city was plunged into grief, but also into action. 

What followed was one of the most extensive and emotionally charged rescue operations the country has ever seen.

Mike Muller, chairperson of Search and Rescue South Africa (Sarza), recalls the moment the call came in. "It was a busy Monday, but not an unusual one, until my phone rang just before 14:30," he says. 

"The Provincial Disaster Centre asked me to put my team on standby for an urban search and rescue response. A building had collapsed in George, and possibly 70 people were trapped. No further details were available."

Within hours, Sarza's first team of 10 volunteers was en route from Cape Town. At about 22:00, they were on the scene, joining dozens of other rescuers working tirelessly through the night. 

"They began the arduous, delicate task of moving rubble in a desperate race against time to free possible survivors," says Muller. "Twenty-four hours later, another team of 10 arrived, drawn from other provinces to assist."

For Muller, the experience was deeply personal. 

"As a team leader, I feared for the team. I was aware of the sights, sounds and experiences they would be exposed to. My prayers were that they returned in one piece, physically, but more importantly, emotionally."

Fortunately, the teams were able to assist meaningfully. "Thankfully, they emerged as part of a team of some of South Africa's finest rescuers. Today, I stand proud that we were able to contribute. 

"After every thunderstorm, the sun shines again. Our sunshine was a new team of volunteers being established in George. We look forward to this team training up and becoming a useful asset in the Garden Route Disaster Response system."

Pieter Burger, one of the first Sarza responders on site, remembers the chaos vividly. 

Pieter Burger on the disaster site. Photo: Deidre Cloete

"When the news broke, I knew Sarza would play an important role," he says. 

"By 22:05, we were in George, moving rubble and working shoulder to shoulder with other volunteers and professionals, trying to get to the survivors. We worked non-stop, and in my zone alone, we managed to free four people who were trapped several layers beneath the debris."

Burger describes what many saw during those critical days - a sight many will (hopefully) not see soon. 

"I saw the real, beautiful people of South Africa in action. United in a common goal: so that others may live."

For volunteer Carrie Milton, the memories remain raw. She describes the building collapse as a gut-wrenching incident. 

Carrie Milton on the scene in Victoria Street last year. Photo: Deidre Cloete

"The near-instant devastation, the helplessness of the victims - it's hard to explain the emotions we experienced. I remember the smells, the dust, the constant noise. I remember the exhaustion on people's faces. But more than that, I remember the camaraderie, the generosity. People handed out food and drinks. And there was even a nurse giving vitamin B injections just to help in any way she could."

Amid all the chaos and debris, there was one special moment for Milton that stood out above all others. The rescue of survivor Gabriel Guambe.

"Before the cheering began, when everyone fell silent to listen for signs of life, there was a moment … a sound across the rubble. It felt like a collective sigh, disbelief, shock, and hope all at once. And then, joy. That moment is something I'll never forget."

The collapse left behind devastation, but it also revealed the resilience of a community. In the face of loss, George came together. Volunteers, emergency personnel and everyday citizens united in compassion and determination.

As we mark one year since the tragedy, we honour the 34 lives lost, the survivors still rebuilding, and the heroes who gave their all to save others.

Members of Sarza and other emergency services in the joint operations centre in Victoria Street.

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