Search and rescue operations to free people trapped under the rubble after a temple collapsed in Verulam on Friday were suspended last night due to bad weather. With the death toll at five, The Citizen reports that two sniffer dogs who helped search for people during the George building collapse, were sent to KZN by the Western Cape government to assist.

To date, eleven people have been rescued alive, while four bodies have been recovered and a fifth body spotted, but not yet recovered, when operations were halted last night (December 13).

Video footage of the temple collapsing, has been posted on Facebook:

What we know so far:

• Calls for help came in around noon on Friday with Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) being the first responders.
• The Witness reported that residents said they did not hear the temple collapse and only realised something was wrong when they noticed Rusa vehicles and ambulances rushing to the scene.
• Construction workers injured in the incident were treated on the scene and transported to hospital, while several people were trapped underneath the rubble.
• Rusa spokesperson said they were able to communicate to some via voice messages. They stopped responding to messages later that evening.
• One person was confirmed dead on Friday afternoon.
• On Friday night search and rescue operations had to be halted due to concerns about the stability of the remaining structure and fears that it, too, might collapse.
• Rescue operations resumed at first light yesterday (Saturday).
• By yesterday afternoon, the death toll rose to three. With one of the deceased identified as Vickey Jairaj Panday (52), an executive member of the temple and manager of the construction project.
• When rescue operations were halted last night, five people have been confirmed dead. Four of the bodies were recovered while one was spotted, but not yet retrieved from the rubble.
• Several government officials including eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson have since visited the scene.
• The Council for the Built Environment will take the lead in a formal investigation on why the structure collapsed, once rescue efforts conclude.

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