NATIONAL NEWS - Under grey skies and drizzle, trucks continued removing debris from the collapsed Ormonde building this morning as recovery teams finalised their search operations.
Southern Courier reports that the tragedy, which unfolded at about 14:00 yesterday, has now left nine people dead.
Fifteen people were affected when the structure gave way. Six injured people were transported to Garden City Hospital and Milpark Hospital shortly after emergency services arrived on scene.
By last night, authorities confirmed six fatalities, with three construction workers still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
This morning, the remaining bodies were recovered, bringing the number of deaths to nine.
Search efforts wrap up
City of Johannesburg Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the search resumed at 08:00 this morning with emergency medical services and other stakeholders involved.
“The search for the three missing construction workers began this morning at 08:00, with emergency medical services and other various stakeholders on the scene.
Two bodies have been recovered up to this moment, and another body has been located. The teams are busy with the process of extracting him from under the concrete rubble,” said Khumalo.
Officials later confirmed that all those reported missing have now been accounted for.
City weighs demolition
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dada Morero visited the site and said the city is considering demolishing the remaining structure once operations are complete.
Morero said preliminary information indicates the building may have been erected in contravention of municipal bylaws.
He added that the property owners would be served with the necessary notice before any demolition takes place.
The mayor also confirmed that attempts to locate the owners have so far been unsuccessful.
Two-week investigation begins
An investigation into the building’s construction is now underway and is expected to continue for about two weeks. Early indications suggest that no approved building plans were in place.
Authorities say the probe will determine the exact cause of the collapse and whether any legal action will follow.
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