DURBAN – Those responsible for the collapse of the temple in Verulam, north of Durban, must be held accountable, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli declared during a visit to the disaster site on Sunday.
Fifth victim recovered
The fifth body was recovered from the collapsed structure on Sunday morning, following the retrieval of four bodies on Saturday. One of the victims is believed to be the owner of the temple.
The four-storey River Range Temple collapsed on Friday whilst still under construction, killing at least five people and injuring many others.
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Uncertain casualty numbers
Authorities remain unable to confirm how many people are trapped beneath the collapsed building, as search and rescue operations continue under challenging conditions.
Visiting the scene on Sunday, Ntuli said authorities were hopeful that the ongoing investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We are hoping that we will discover the truth as to whether there were genuine reasons for this to happen or whether there was carelessness during the construction,” Ntuli stated.
Professional standards under scrutiny
“If there are engineers who were involved, we will also have to determine whether those engineers were fit for purpose. It is important that we prevent further occurrences in the province before we experience more tragedies,” the premier added.
The investigation will examine building standards, construction oversight, and professional qualifications to ensure accountability and prevent similar disasters in future.
Search and rescue teams continue working at the site despite difficult conditions, including unstable debris and adverse weather.
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