Search for victim resumes as death toll reaches five in Verulam structural collapse
Rescue teams confirmed that the search will resume for the recovery of a fifth after operations were temporarily suspended due to severe weather conditions.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
Recovery efforts will continue in Redcliffe, Verulam, on Sunday after a fatal structure collapse on Friday
Rescue teams confirmed that the search will resume for the recovery of a fifth after operations were temporarily suspended due to severe weather conditions.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) said four bodies have been recovered from the debris, while the location of a fifth victim has been identified but recovery has not yet been possible.
"The body of a fifth individual has been located; however, recovery efforts were suspended due to inclement weather conditions," the organisation said.
Rusa confirmed that the search and rescue operation was initiated after it received an emergency call shortly before midday on Friday.
Reaction officers who arrived at the scene subsequently called in specialised search and rescue teams from across KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in a coordinated multi-agency operation.
Rescue and recovery efforts are expected to resume on Sunday, once conditions are considered safe for personnel to re-enter the site.
On Saturday, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba revisited the collapse site to support emergency teams and affected families.
He confirmed that a multidisciplinary technical team has been appointed to investigate the cause of the collapse and will compile a preliminary report to be released next week.
Xaba urged the public to refrain from speculation. “We urge the public not to speculate about the cause of the incident and to allow the technical team the necessary space to conduct its work.”
The Mayor was accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works Martin Meyer, and MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi.
Authorities have assured families that government support will continue throughout the recovery process, while a full investigation will follow once operations at the site are concluded.
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