At 14:09 on Monday, 6 May 2024, 6 000 tonnes of concrete came crashing down on 62 people working at the site of a five-storey building under construction in George. The incident resulted in an 11-day rescue and recovery operation and left 34 people dead.
The collapse took only five seconds, but it changed the lives of the 28 people left trapped beneath the rubble, some of them for days, as well as those who were tasked with rescuing them.
One year on, the survivors and first responders relive the day the dust rose at 75 Victoria Street, many of them with traumatic memories and little closure. Despite several investigations into the collapse, no one has been held criminally accountable for the lives lost.
A TALE OF NAVIGATING THE RUBBLE
Buried alive: Survivor relives his 118-hour horror after the George building collapse
On Monday, 6 May 2024, at 14:09, 6 000 tonnes of concrete came crashing down at a construction site in Victoria Street, George, killing more than 30 people and leaving Gabriel Guamba entombed in rubble for 118 hours.
Image: Luke Daniel/News24
Image: Luke Daniel/News24
‘It was a moment of disbelief’: Rescue workers recall unprecedented George building collapse
Nicole McCain
For the first few seconds after his arrival at what was dubbed South Africa’s worst construction disaster, George chief fire officer Neels Barnard took in the scale of what was before him. He and other first responders recall that moment and the days that followed.
Image: Luke Daniel/News24
Image: Luke Daniel/News24
Beyond the collapse: Blame game continues but no criminal charges
Iavan Pijoos, Marvin Charles, Nicole McCain, Velani Ludidi
A year after the George building collapse, no one has been held criminally responsible.
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Journalists: Nicole McCain, Iavan Pijoos, Marvin Charles and Velani Ludidi
Senior video reporter: Luke Daniel
Design: Mihle Mdashe, Saara Mowlana
Sub Editor: Fatima Schroeder
Head of News: Nicki Gules
Multimedia Editor: Nokuthula Manyathi
Production Editor: Hanlie Gouws
Image credits:
Luke Daniel | News24
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