Rescuers call on public to help identify bodies following building collapse

It is estimated that 81 people were on the scene when the incident occurred. To date, 61 people have been rescued or recovered, including 32 who died and 12 who are currently hospitalised. Nearly two dozen individuals remain unaccounted for.

The primary focus remains on rescue efforts. With this in mind, rescuers are proactively developing plans to expedite the identification of the deceased. This is carried out by the Forensic Pathology Service and the South African Police Service . Fingerprints, DNA testing, and photographs of distinctive markings such as tattoos and clothing items are among the methods used to identify the deceased.

It is confirmed that six of the deceased were positively identified; this information was also entered into the system. ‘We are experiencing difficulties in obtaining accurate names of individuals missing or deceased due to the building collapse,’ read a statement for the George Municipality. ‘We urgently request families who have lost contact with their loved ones to come to the George Civic Centre on York Street. This will enable the Department of Social Development to collect detailed and precise information, ensuring that all records are accurately documented.

The Joint District Operations Centre must follow a stringent double verification protocol to ensure the integrity and accuracy of reported deceased numbers, which is critical in emergency and disaster response scenarios. This verification process entails cross-referencing data from multiple credible sources, including recovery teams, hospitals, and forensic services.

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