Verulam Temple tragedy: Premier Ntuli extends condolences, says more bodies likely under rubble

KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says there is a possibility that more bodies may be recovered from the collapsed temple in Verulam, north of Durban, following a search and rescue operation.
So far, five bodies have been pulled from the debris of the four-storey building.

Eleven people—two women and nine men—were rescued alive after the structure collapsed on Friday.

READ: Temple collapse tragedy: Fifth body recovered in Verulam

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased.

While Sunday’s search and rescue operation was seen as a victory, authorities are concerned there could still be more bodies under the rubble.

Ntuli says technical teams have cleared only two storeys so far.

"We suspect that there may be more bodies, as they also have the same view. Well, the information they are giving me is that for the four bodies that they have recovered, they are the bodies of the South Africans."

The Premier further explained that such operations take time, as rescuers must carefully remove debris to avoid causing further harm to anyone still trapped.