South African Mall Suddenly Collapses

South African Mall Suddenly Collapses

A shopping mall has suddenly collapsed in the South African town of Tongaat, 20 miles north of east coastal Durban, leaving one worker dead. So far, an unidentified 21 injured have been recovered from the debris. Two of the injured were in critical condition and rushed to nearby hospitals. While some of the other injuries were serious, they did not appear to be life threatening. Initially, there was a report of as many as 50 workers being trapped and unaccounted for in the collapse, but that later was scaled down to an estimated 24. A hospital spokesman felt obviously there were a lot of injured still trapped on the site because the shopping mall was open to the public.

Rescue workers, police and scent-sniffing dogs continued their search as nightfall approached. Hydraulic jacks to lift the slabs and grinders to cut through the metal are being used, but noise from the equipment is blocking sounds for help among the rubble.

A resident living nearby reported hearing a dynamite-like sound that was almost deafening as she stood in her kitchen. She looked up and watched the shopping mall collapse as if it had been dynamited, while hearing the screams of men in Zulu. She said just days before, workers had started removing scaffolding from around the structure.

Local authorities had attempted to halt mall construction work a month ago, and were not aware that it was continuing. There were some issues of concern about its infrastructure.

On The Web:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/19/us-safrica-building-idUSBRE9AI0SB20131119