A concrete floor under construction in South Africa collapsed on Monday, killing at least six people and leaving two trapped beneath the debris, emergency services have confirmed.
Three others are currently missing following the collapse in Johannesburg, according to Xolile Khumalo, spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Management Services, who spoke from the scene.
One person was successfully rescued.
Ms Khumalo detailed that an upper-level floor in the building, situated in the southern suburb of Ormonde, gave way and fell onto individuals below.
The ongoing rescue efforts are complicated by the instability of the structure, with parts of the building “caving in,” posing significant risks to emergency personnel.
Johannesburg public safety official Mgcini Tshwaku stated that the collapse occurred in a section of the building that was actively under construction.
It is not yet clear if all the victims were construction workers. Mr Tshwaku also revealed that one of the men trapped has a large concrete slab pinning his leg, and an amputation might be required to free him.
A surgeon from a nearby hospital has been brought in to assess his condition.
“We just have to get everyone out,” Tshwaku said.
There will be an investigation into who was in charge of the construction work and if plans were properly reviewed and approved, Tshwaku said.
A building that was under construction collapsed in South Africa’s southern city of George in 2024, killing 34 construction workers and resulting in a 10-day rescue operation.
An investigation found multiple failures, including breaches of safety regulations, were responsible for that tragedy.
