George - The death toll from the collapsed building on Victoria Street in George has climbed to 16 as rescue operations extend into their sixth day. With 36 individuals still missing and 14 hospitalized, the community remains in a state of urgency.

According to South African Government News Agency, which issued a statement on Sunday morning, the Joint District Operations Centre is rigorously employing a double verification protocol to maintain the accuracy of casualty and survivor counts. This effort involves close collaboration with recovery teams, hospital staff, and forensic services.

The municipality has issued a call for professional psychosocial support practitioners who are proficient in Chewa, Portuguese, and Shona languages. These professionals are needed to assist the survivors and their families during this critical time. Interested practitioners have been urged to contact Kholiswa Jobela or Apolus Swart.

The local government also praised the emergency services and firefighters for their relentless dedication and strength throughout the ongoing rescue efforts, acknowledging them as inspirations in the wake of this tragedy.