Search for survivors called off at collapsed South Africa building site

Rescue workers on Wednesday called off the search for survivors at a collapsed building site near the South African city of Durban. 

It is not known how many construction workers may be still trapped in the rubble of the half-built shopping center in the township of Tongaat, but specialist equipment failed to detect anything overnight. 

The tragedy happened Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. local time after many of the workers had left. 

One person has been confirmed dead and 29 injured. Initial reports said as many 50 workers might be trapped.

"We haven't the faintest idea of how many people are dead," police lieutenant Mandy Govender was quoted by the Agence France-Presse as saying.

"The fact that 29 were taken out from there leaves us guessing. Only when we get in there will we really know what's underneath all that rubble there, and it's a lot of rubble to get through."

The injured are suffering "massive traumatic injuries," said Chris Botha, a spokesman for Netcare 911 emergency services.

Around 100 meters of concrete slabs — about 18 inches thick each — came crashing down in the collapse.

"The scene is extremely horrific … concrete big blocks have fallen on to people," Botha told broadcaster ENCA from the scene.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear. The Department of Labour visited the scene on Tuesday and described the accident as "calamitous."