At least six people have been confirmed dead and several others are still believed to be trapped following the collapse of a building on Monday in a southern suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, according to local authorities.
The incident occurred at Amethyst Business Park in Ormonde, where 12 workers were reportedly on the ground floor of a two-storey structure when a section of the building suddenly gave way.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo, speaking to reporters at the scene, said two people were confirmed to be trapped beneath the rubble, while three others remained unaccounted for. One individual was rescued alive from the debris. Emergency services have cordoned off the area and urged members of the public to steer clear to allow rescue teams to operate without obstruction.
Search and recovery efforts are continuing, with officials warning that the unstable condition of the remaining structure poses a significant risk to responders. Rescue personnel indicated that parts of the building were “already caving in”, complicating operations. Authorities have pledged to continue the mission until all missing persons are located. The cause of the collapse has not yet been established. An investigation is under way.