Five injured after Johannesburg hospital roof collapses

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - At least five people were injured after a roof collapsed at South Africa’s Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in the South African capital of Johannesburg on Thursday.

Provincial Health Minister Gwen Malegwale Ramokgopa told reporters at the scene that the rooftop on the fifth floor of the hospital caved in at about 2.15 p.m. local time (1215 GMT).

She said rescue workers were busy working on site to ensure no one was trapped underneath the rubble.

Johannesburg‘s Emergency Medical Service said they were working hard to remove the rubble in a bid to find any patients which may have been trapped beneath the debris.

"Specialized rescue equipment is being used to stabilize other points in the hospital while rescue efforts continue," the emergency group said in a tweet.

Democratic Alliance shadow Minister Jack Bloom told Anadolu Agency via telephone that staff members at the hospital had been complaining of leaking rooftops for many years.

"I have been told two people are trapped under the rubble, but rescue efforts are ongoing," he said late Thursday.