People who were rescued from the collapsed building in Verulam north of Durban say they are lucky to be alive. Builders were adding concrete on the top level of the multi-storey temple when it collapsed.
At least one person died. A group of people were stuck on a balcony for a couple hours before they were rescued.
Preliminary reports indicate that the temple was fully functional and that another structure was being constructed on top of it.
Several people have been hospitalised.
DEVELOPING | Rescue operations are underway in Verulam, north of Durban, after the collapse of a four-storey temple. At least one person has been confirmed dead. SABC News Reporter Simphiwe Makhanya is on the scene. pic.twitter.com/W4QVWcspYI
— SABC News (@SABCNews) December 12, 2025
One of the construction workers who survived the collapse explains how the incident occurred. He confirms that his boss is among those who are trapped under the rubble.
“I was putting concrete in a slab and I was at the top, and other people were on the first floor. That time, the first part fell down, and other people were stuck inside. There are about five people. There are about three workers, our boss and the cousin’s boss and an electricity guy. No one screamed …no one screamed, we were praying, we didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Meanwhile, the Co-operative Governance Department in KwaZulu-Natal says there are no severe weather warnings for the area of Verulam as rescue efforts continue at the collapsed Redcliffe Temple.
“For the weather warnings that we normally receive, there are no weather warnings specifically for this area. We do see, though, that the weather conditions are changing. We are hoping they will have enough time to do what needs to be done. We do have firefighters as well as machinery that are being brought on site to assist with this rescue or recovery operation,” says Department spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila.
Rescue Operation For Victims Trapped In Temple Collapse: Redcliffe – KZNhttps://t.co/uGyRVlY5V0#ArriveAlive #StructuralCollapse #TempleCollapse #RUSA@ConstructionSfy pic.twitter.com/HsejF9xGUn
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 12, 2025
Temple Collapse | Rescue operations underway, one death confirmed
