– Article compiled with reportage from Arrive Alive
DURBAN – By late Saturday afternoon, the bodies of four men had been recovered from the debris of the temple collapse in Verulam, following extensive search and rescue operations.
On Friday afternoon 12 December, teams of IPSS Search and Rescue were mobilised to the Verulam area after a structural collapse occurred at a building site.
Reports indicated that multiple people were entrapped beneath the rubble, while others were stranded on a balcony.
ALSO READ: UPDATE | Unknown number of people still being searched for after temple collapse
Multi-agency operation
Upon arrival, teams of IPSS Search and Rescue, the eThekwini Fire Department, Netcare911, Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue, and SAPS Search and Rescue immediately assessed the situation.
The decision was made to first rescue those stranded, who had sustained only minor injuries.
Teams then began the challenging task of attempting to reach those trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Extended search temporarily halted
Work continued until late Friday night, when the decision was made to halt the search temporarily.
At 05:00 on Saturday morning, teams of IPSS Search and Rescue, SAPS Search and Rescue, Durban Metro Police Search and Rescue, SARZA and the eThekwini Fire Department returned to continue the search operation.
Throughout Saturday, teams from multiple organisations worked tirelessly.
The mayor of the eThekwini Municipality, Cllr. Cyril Xaba, on Saturday revisited the site of the collapsed building in Verulam to lend support to ongoing rescue and recovery operations.
Xaba commended the rescue teams for their exceptional efforts. He assured the families of victims gathered at the site that government remained committed to working tirelessly until all individuals trapped beneath the rubble were safely retrieved.
The mayor confirmed that a multidisciplinary technical team had been established to investigate the cause of the incident. The team will collect all relevant information and compile a preliminary report, which is expected to be released to the public next week.
The government delegation accompanying the mayor included the minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson; KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works, Martin Meyer; and MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thulasizwe Buthelezi.
Adverse weather conditions affect rescue
Late on Saturday afternoon, the search was suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
Teams were expected to return to the scene on Sunday morning as they continue their efforts to bring closure to the families of the victims.
Conditions have been extremely difficult, with high temperatures and humidity, heavy rain, and an unstable work area.
Teams have had to use hand tools and power tools in an attempt to break through the thick, reinforced concrete slab to access those trapped below.
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