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| South Africa mall roof collapse traps dozens | South Africa mall roof collapse traps dozens |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One person has died and about 50 are feared trapped after a roof collapsed at the construction site of a South African shopping mall, officials say. | One person has died and about 50 are feared trapped after a roof collapsed at the construction site of a South African shopping mall, officials say. |
| Rescue teams are working in the dark and using sniffer dogs to look for survivors beneath the rubble at the site in Tongaat, north of Durban. | |
| About 30 people had been taken to hospital - some with massive traumatic injuries, paramedics say. | About 30 people had been taken to hospital - some with massive traumatic injuries, paramedics say. |
| Officials said those trapped were construction workers. | Officials said those trapped were construction workers. |
| Sniffer dogs | Sniffer dogs |
| "Rescue operations are becoming extremely difficult in the dark," rescue operator Neil Powell told the BBC World Service radio programme Focus on Africa. | "Rescue operations are becoming extremely difficult in the dark," rescue operator Neil Powell told the BBC World Service radio programme Focus on Africa. |
| Mr Powell said the workers were trapped in a large amount of rubble and scaffolding. | Mr Powell said the workers were trapped in a large amount of rubble and scaffolding. |
| The deputy mayor of the municipality told South African media that authorities had obtained an injunction a month ago to halt construction at the site. | The deputy mayor of the municipality told South African media that authorities had obtained an injunction a month ago to halt construction at the site. |
| "There are areas of the law that they [construction firms] did not follow in terms of building," Nomvuzo Shabalala told broadcaster ENCA. | "There are areas of the law that they [construction firms] did not follow in terms of building," Nomvuzo Shabalala told broadcaster ENCA. |
| "We were not aware that they were continuing building," she added. | "We were not aware that they were continuing building," she added. |
| Chris Botha, from the ambulance company Netcare 911, said it was too early to know the cause of the collapse. | Chris Botha, from the ambulance company Netcare 911, said it was too early to know the cause of the collapse. |
| "It is going to be a long operation. It will take time to get to everyone," he told the BBC. | "It is going to be a long operation. It will take time to get to everyone," he told the BBC. |
| The accident happened around 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT). | The accident happened around 16:30 local time (14:30 GMT). |
| About 100 rescue workers are at the scene, where hydraulic equipment is being used to break through the concrete blocks. | About 100 rescue workers are at the scene, where hydraulic equipment is being used to break through the concrete blocks. |
| Tongaat is a small town about 40km (25 miles) north of Durban and has a large South African Asian population. | Tongaat is a small town about 40km (25 miles) north of Durban and has a large South African Asian population. |
| Nearby transport routes to Tongaat had been affected as the main road through the town has been shut to traffic and trains have been stopped, Mr Powell said. | Nearby transport routes to Tongaat had been affected as the main road through the town has been shut to traffic and trains have been stopped, Mr Powell said. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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