Rescue and recovery efforts continue a week after the George Victoria Street multi-storey building collapsed.

At the time of publishing, rescue workers and other role players had been on site for 160 hours.

The confirmed statistics are:

• Estimated individuals on-site when the incident occurred: 81
• Rescued and recovered: 50, of which 21 are deceased
• Currently hospitalised: 15
• Unaccounted for: 31

Pathology services

Rescue efforts remain the primary focus on the site, and plans are being expedited to identify the deceased.

With the support of the Forensic Pathology Service and SAPS, George Municipality is trying to fast-track the process to bring closure to families.

The municipality has extended its heartfelt thanks to the occupational health and safety (OHS) teams at the site, for keeping rescue workers safe. There have been no serious incidents involving rescue workers or volunteers.

Each participating company is tasked with assigning OHS officers to ensure safety at the scene.

Psychosocial support needed

There is still an urgent call for professional psychosocial support practitioners proficient in Chewa, Portuguese and Shona to assist survivors and their families.

Several practitioners have already offered their services.

If you can assist, contact Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205.

Ministerial visits

The minister of public works and infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, will be on-site today at 12:30, and the deputy minister of international relations and co-operation, Alvin Botes, will be on-site at 15:00.

Minister of Police Bheki Cele visited the site yesterday.

Watch the minister’s media briefing. Video by Alida de Beer: