Several injured in S Africa hospital roof collapse

Image
AFP Johannesburg
Last Updated : Mar 02 2017 | 11:02 PM IST
Emergency workers dug through rubble in Johannesburg today after part of a hospital roof collapsed, injuring several people and forcing some patients to be evacuated.
Sniffer dogs were brought in to search for any victims trapped under a pile of twisted metal and masonry, though it was not confirmed that anyone was buried under the debris.
Gauteng provincial health minister Gwen Ramokgopa said workers were on the roof when it collapsed into a public area of the Charlotte Maxeke hospital in central Johannesburg.
"So far we have five injuries, two of them were the contractors themselves, two were our patients, and one is our employee," Ramokgopa told reporters at the scene.
The emergency rescue service said there were 10 to 12 minor injuries.
"We are still digging at the moment, but nothing has been found yet," spokesman Russel Meiring told AFP.
"We have the canine search and rescue team there, we are not sure if there are any people trapped."
The main opposition Democratic Alliance party claimed that stones had been shifted onto the roof that caved in near the maternity department of the hospital.
The Charlotte Maxeke is a large public general hospital in central Johannesburg, named after a social worker and activist who died in 1939.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 02 2017 | 11:02 PM IST

Next Story