Search ends at Inanda wall collapse site as all congregants accounted for

By Levy Masiteng 

The search-and-rescue operation at the site of a retaining wall collapse at a church in Inanda has officially concluded after emergency teams confirmed that no one remained trapped beneath the rubble.

“Specialised SAPS Search and Rescue K9 units were deployed to conduct a final sweep of the site, and the dogs did not detect any bodies beneath the collapsed structure,” the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said.

All congregants were accounted for, with the final casualty count remaining at eight people rescued from the scene and taken to hospital for treatment.

The approximately 18-metre-long retaining wall collapsed during a church gathering at eBuhleni Village on Monday. Initial reports indicated that about 20 congregants were close to the wall when it gave way, trapping several people beneath soil and rubble.

Of the eight people who were hospitalised, two sustained critical injuries, while six suffered