A tragic building collapse in Ormonde, located south of Johannesburg, on Monday afternoon, March 2, has resulted in a significant loss of life.

Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) has officially confirmed that six individuals have died following the incident.

Speaking from the scene, Joburg EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo provided details on the casualties and ongoing rescue efforts. Khumalo stated that a total of 12 people were believed to be inside the structure when it collapsed.

Of these, six unfortunately perished, one person has been successfully rescued, and two others are currently confirmed to be trapped. The status of the remaining individuals is still unknown and they are unaccounted for.

The spokesperson also highlighted the hazardous conditions at the site, noting that the building remains unstable with certain sections continuing to cave in.

Rescue operations are being conducted with extreme caution to ensure the safety of the teams working within the dangerous environment and to prevent any additional collapses.

Furthermore, Khumalo mentioned that authorities do not yet know the intended purpose or use of the collapsed building. Notably, despite the tragic outcome, information indicated that the building had received municipal approval prior to the collapse.