Several people trapped after building collapses in South Africa

It was still unclear what caused the building to fall in the early afternoon

According to the city hall, a multi-story building under construction in George, South Africa, collapsed on Monday, trapping approximately 48 workers in the rubble. There were 70 people on-site during the collapse, with 22 taken to the hospital, as reported by a city spokeswoman.

Mario Ferreira, spokesperson for the charity Gift of the Givers aiding in rescue efforts, stated that rescue workers had established communication with some trapped individuals.

The cause of the collapse, which occurred in the early afternoon, remains unclear. The building had an underground parking lot. Photos from the scene showed a flattened construction site with various rescue services present.

Rescue operations continued into the evening, with no immediate reports of fatalities. However, more than 40 people were reportedly trapped under the rubble, according to state-owned broadcaster SABC.

The building before it collapsed

The Western Cape provincial government is closely monitoring the situation, prioritizing saving lives. George Mayor Leon van Wyk noted the likelihood of a lengthy rescue effort extending through the night