ONE PERSON WAS killed and as many as 50 workers were feared trapped after the roof of an under-construction shopping centre collapsed near the South African city of Durban.

Police spokeswoman Mandy Govender said one person was confirmed dead and at least 26 people have been pulled from the rubble injured.

“It was a mall building still under construction,” said Govender. “Most of those still trapped inside the building were construction workers.”

An Thekwini municipality fire official said emergency teams were working to prevent further collapses at the site.

“There is work in progress to try and stabilise the situation,” he said, refusing to give his name because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Earlier the private emergency medical care firm ER24 said “as many as 50 people entrapped at Tongaat mall.”

Another private emergency firm, Netcare 911, said 29 people have been taken to hospital, and confirmed around 50 are still missing.

Netcare’s Chris Botha said the accident happened around 4:30 pm local time (2.30pm GMT).

Tongaat is around 40km north of the Indian Ocean city of Durban.

© – AFP