Gabriel Gumba, the miracle man who was rescued from his concrete trap after 118 hours, has expressed his heartfelt thanks to rescuers for their unwavering dedication. His story sparked a moment of happiness despite the grim knowledge that 37 people remain unaccounted for.

The joy of seeing Gumba being lifted from the wreckage and hearing that he was stable in hospital was reflected on the face of MMC for Community Safety Marais Kruger when, in an uplifting video he introduced Bond, the sniffer dog who helped make this miracle possible.

The body of one more person was retrieved at 02:30 this morning, and rescue efforts to find the others – dead or alive – continue unabated.

As of 06:00 this morning, rescue operations had been ongoing for 135 hours.

• Total individuals on-site during the incident: 81
• Rescued and recovered: 44, of which 15 are deceased
• Currently hospitalised: 14
• Unaccounted for: 37

The Joint District Operations Centre adheres to a stringent double verification protocol to ensure the accuracy of the reported numbers. This is done in close collaboration with recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.

The National Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, is scheduled to visit the site later this morning for an official briefing.

Professional psychosocial support practitioners who are proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona are needed to assist survivors and their families. Call Kholiswa Jobela at 078 210 5972 or Apolus Swart at 061 504 4205 for more information.