Rescue effort for dozens missing in South Africa building collapse are boosted by 1 more survivor

Rescue operations in South Africa continued on Monday as teams worked tirelessly to locate any survivors still trapped under the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed a week ago while under construction.

The discovery of one construction worker alive over the weekend, after enduring six days without food or water, provided a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.

Authorities confirmed the deaths of 24 construction workers who were present when the unfinished five-story building collapsed, with 28 others still unaccounted for, raising concerns that the final death toll could surpass 50.

Over 600 emergency responders and other personnel have been engaged in the search for survivors within the wreckage of the building in George on South Africa's southern coast, which crumbled last Monday.

Of the 81 workers present during the collapse, 29 have been rescued alive, according to the city. However, 13 of them remain hospitalized, with their conditions undisclosed but previously reported as critical upon rescue.

Despite the grim situation, the disaster management team leading the response maintained that the operation was focused on rescue rather than recovery, citing the recent survivor extraction.

The survivor, identified as 32-year-old Gabriel Guambe, was in stable condition with minor injuries after spending 118 hours trapped in the debris, highlighting the possibility of more survivors in voids within the wreckage.

Rescue efforts have utilized cranes, heavy machinery, and sniffer dogs to access deeper sections of the collapsed structure. Many of the workers were from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, necessitating translators to aid in communication and identification.

Multiple investigations into the cause of the collapse, including police inquiries at the declared crime scene and scrutiny of the construction company's adherence to safety protocols, are ongoing.

As a tribute to the victims, people have placed flowers at the site's perimeter, and a joint statement from the city and disaster response team called for a moment of silence at 2:09 p.m. on Monday, marking the exact time of the building's collapse.