The roof collapsed at a South African shopping mall under construction, killing at least one and injuring some 30 workers many of whom were rushed to hospital.  Workers are picking through the rubble and sniffer dogs are on the scene.

This happened in Tongaat, north of Durban on South Africa’s East Coast. Local officials said there shouldn’t have been any work going on at the site in the first place.

Deputy mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said, “We took them [the contractors] to court a month ago.  We thought they had stopped,” because, “they hadn't followed processes.”

Witnesses said they won’t forget the cries from the workers as the roof gave in.

“It was just after 4:30 [local time].  Suddenly, about 200 meters of concrete slab just collapsed all at the same time.  The screams of the guys, above all of that mad noise, you could still hear them,” said Fiona Mooneal, who witnessed the collapse from her home across a railway line from the construction site.

“It was like when you blow up a building, a bomb.  That sound – it was terrible.”

Most of the injured workers suffered broken bones and crush injuries.  Heat-seeking equipment had detected three “hot spots” where other survivors could be located.