Rescuers in South Africa are working tirelessly to find survivors after a five-storey apartment block under construction collapsed, tragically claiming the lives of five individuals and leaving around 50 others trapped.
The incident, which occurred on Monday in George, Western Cape province, has seen 26 people rescued from the rubble and taken to hospital.
However, the number of workers on-site at the time of the collapse suggests that many more could still be trapped.
The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation, with video footage capturing the dramatic moment the building crumbled into a cloud of dust.
Emergency workers are painstakingly clearing the site by hand, as heavy lifting equipment and sniffer dogs are brought in to aid the rescue mission.
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The area has been cordoned off, but onlookers are gathered around in shock and disbelief.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and called for a thorough investigation to provide closure to the community and prevent similar disasters in the future.
Mayor Ald Van Wyk echoed these sentiments, emphasizing his thoughts are with the affected families as they anxiously wait for news of their loved ones.
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Despite the challenges, rescuers have managed to establish contact with some trapped individuals, giving hope that more lives may be saved.
