Update on building collapse, Victoria Street: 23 patients extracted

NATIONAL NEWS AND VIDEOS - One red patient has been extracted at 23:00 tonight at the site of the multi-storey construction site which collapsed at 75 Victoria Street this afternoon at 14:09.

This brings the total number of patients extracted to twenty-three (23) of which two (2) have been declared deceased.

Over 111 Emergency and Disaster personnel are currently on site to locate and retrieve the remaining fifty-two (52) persons unaccounted for. Two sniffer dogs are currently involved in the rescue operation.

Emergency personnel en-route from City of Cape Town and Breede Valley Local Municipality will be on site by 00:00 tonight.

Minister Anton Bredell, Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning arrived this evening at 11pm and is currently at the site of the rescue operation. Premier Alan Winde will arrive in George tomorrow morning.

VIDEO - Minister of local government and Western Cape head of disaster, Deiner Colin addressing the media on scene:

Garden Route District Municipality has established a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) with multiple stakeholders present as well as Western Cape Provincial Disaster Services.

Over 100 Family and friends of the local construction workers involved in the incident are gathered at the main municipal building and continue to be assisted by Department of Social Services and Correctional Services Social Workers.

The construction companies involved are working with the GRDM Joint Operations Centre to establish a list of names of those remaining unaccounted for.

VIDEO - Victoria street building disaster: Family says they remain hopeful:

An update will be issued at about 03:00 tomorrow, 7 May, South African Time.

This group of family members and friends of workers trapped in the rubble have been waiting for hours near the site in the hope of getting word about their loved ones. Photo: Alida de Beer