After a building collapse in South Africa that claimed 33 lives, rescue operations were suspended

On Friday, George, South Africa, authorities called off the search for more dead and survivors at the scene of a collapsed building that claimed the lives of thirty-three individuals.

Eleven days have passed since the five-story residential structure under construction in the city east of Cape Town collapsed, leaving a trail of dust behind. Rescue workers and volunteers have been searching through the debris during this time.

According to the Western Cape administration, 62 people were present at the scene at the time of the accident. After being saved, twenty-nine people made it out alive.

Municipal authorities first estimated that 81 individuals were there when the building collapsed.

“There is nothing on the site. Reporters were informed by Western Cape province official Anton Bredell, “We have done our job.”

Along with South Africans, it’s thought that immigrants from neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe were employed at the construction site.

According to a spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs in Malawi, 11 people had been rescued from the event, two of whom were still in the hospital, and nine Malawians had been declared dead.

The reason behind the building’s collapse is yet unknown. There are currently investigations underway.

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa paid a visit to the scene and spoke with the victims’ families.