Three people, including a one-year-old child, died when a two-story building collapsed in Soweto, a township west of Johannesburg, in the early hours of Sunday morning, authorities said. The Soweto building collapse also left three other people injured, and they were taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for treatment.
Emergency personnel said six people were inside the building when it collapsed. The three injured were trapped under rubble and rescued by responders, according to Johannesburg Emergency Management Services.
Injured survivors treated at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
Authorities said the three survivors suffered injuries during the collapse and were receiving medical care at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, one of the major public hospitals serving Soweto and surrounding areas.
Johannesburg EMS did not immediately provide further details about the injuries or the conditions of those hospitalized beyond confirming they were receiving treatment.
Officials: Investigation underway into what caused the collapse
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said the incident was handed to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
“Tragically, three lives were lost in this incident: two adult females and one child. The incident has been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation,” Khumalo said.
Officials have not released the names of the victims. Authorities also did not immediately say what type of building collapsed, whether it was a residence or another structure, or whether the building had shown signs of structural problems before it fell.
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Rescue operations focused on those trapped under rubble
Emergency officials said responders rescued three people who were trapped beneath the debris after the building collapsed. The rescue effort, as described by authorities, centered on locating survivors inside the rubble and removing them so they could receive medical care.
In building collapses, rescue work can be complicated by unstable debris, limited visibility, and the risk of secondary collapses. Authorities did not provide details about how long the rescue took or whether specialized search-and-rescue teams were deployed.
A second deadly collapse raises concerns and scrutiny
The Soweto collapse came just weeks after another deadly structural failure in South Africa. On Dec. 12, a multistory building under construction at the site of a Hindu temple collapsed near the coastal city of Durban, killing five people, authorities said.
The building was being constructed on top of a temple in Verulam, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Durban, when it collapsed. One person was initially reported dead, but search teams later recovered four more bodies from the rubble, bringing the death toll to five.
Authorities investigating the Verulam collapse said preliminary reports indicated the construction was illegal because there were no approved building plans. Police opened an inquest into that incident, and officials said search and rescue teams remained on site as they worked to ensure everyone had been accounted for.
What happens next
In Soweto, investigators are expected to focus on what caused the two-story building to give way and whether any safety violations, structural defects, or environmental factors contributed. Authorities have not said whether the building was inspected recently or whether any complaints were raised ahead of time.
Officials have also not said whether anyone could face charges or whether the incident will lead to broader inspections of buildings in the area. Updates are expected as investigators compile evidence from the scene, interview witnesses, and assess the building’s condition before it collapsed.
For families affected by Sunday’s collapse, the immediate focus remains on recovery and medical care for survivors. Authorities said the investigation will continue under the relevant departments responsible for building safety and law enforcement review.
Sources:
Associated Press – “A building collapse in South Africa kills three people, including a 1-year-old”
The South African – “Three die after double-storey building collapse in Soweto”
