A devastating building collapse in George, South Africa, has left 33 people dead and many more injured. The Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa has confirmed that three Zimbabwean nationals were among the survivors.

The partially completed five-storey building collapsed on the 6th of May, trapping an estimated 81 people underneath the rubble. Authorities have identified 47 of the victims, including workers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, and Mozambique.

The Zimbabwean Embassy has sent a team to the scene to provide support and gather more information. “We don’t have a precise number of affected nationals, but we have confirmed that at least three Zimbabweans survived the collapse,” said Ambassador David Hamadziripi. “We are working closely with the South African authorities to determine the extent of the damage and provide assistance to those affected.”

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation by the South African authorities. The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) had been investigating the consulting engineer overseeing the construction, Atholl Mitchell, for alleged breaches of conduct before the collapse.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has indicated that a comprehensive range of services will continue to be made available to the affected families for a minimum of six months.

The Zimbabwean Embassy has offered its condolences to the families of the victims and stands ready to provide any necessary assistance to affected nationals, including potential repatriation of remains if requested by families.