Overnight, rescue teams diligently worked to locate and extricate dozens of construction workers trapped under concrete rubble for more than 12 hours after a multi-story apartment complex collapsed during construction in a coastal city of South Africa.

As of early Tuesday, authorities confirmed five fatalities, with 49 workers still trapped amidst the debris. Twenty-one workers were rescued and hospitalized, including 11 with severe injuries. The collapse occurred in George, approximately 400 kilometers east of Cape Town on the south coast.

Over 100 emergency responders were deployed, employing sniffer dogs and heavy lifting equipment to aid the search efforts. Tall spotlights facilitated the overnight operation. Colin Deiner, chief director of Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Services, described the rescue as challenging due to the large amount of concrete debris. He noted that some trapped workers were communicating with rescuers but couldn't move due to limbs pinned under concrete.

The George municipality reported that 75 workers were on-site during the collapse. Three rescue teams focused on different areas around the fallen building.

Family and friends of the workers gathered at municipal offices, anxiously awaiting updates. George Executive Mayor Leon Van Wyk expressed solidarity with affected families.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with CCTV footage capturing the incident. Gift of the Givers, a local NGO, provided support at the site with supplies and sniffer dogs.

Provincial and national governments mobilized additional resources to assist in the ongoing rescue operation, prioritizing saving lives as the primary objective.