INANDA, KwaZulu-Natal — A retaining wall collapse at the Nazareth Baptist Church in Inanda has left eight people injured, two of them critically, sparking an intensive multi-agency search and rescue operation. The structural failure occurred at the Ebuhleni village site north of Durban, burying workers under meters of loose sand and prompting urgent emergency response efforts.
ALS paramedic Massimo Galassi confirmed that eight individuals were extricated from the site prior to the arrival of additional emergency units. Six of the workers sustained moderate injuries, while two suffered critical injuries. Galassi noted that the injured workers were privately transported to a local clinic for urgent medical treatment.
According to Galassi, the collapsed structure was a concrete block retaining wall, approximately four to five meters in height, designed to hold back soft sand being moved at the site. The structural failure covered roughly 800 square meters of the area in loose sand ranging from four to five meters deep. This has raised serious concerns about how many individuals might remain trapped beneath the rubble, as the total number of workers present on the site at the time of the incident remains unconfirmed.
The eThekwini Fire Brigade has taken control of the scene, while search and rescue teams from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Metro Police are actively coordinating efforts to locate any potentially trapped individuals. Rescuers are utilizing a Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB) alongside manual manpower and shovels to carefully comb through the unstable sand.
Access to the site has been heavily restricted, with church members actively denying media entry to the area. A representative from Marshall Security Community Support, who arrived to render assistance and coordinate with rescue efforts, described the complex environment on the ground. The representative noted the deep cultural significance of the location, observing that many locals were walking barefoot. Upon inquiring, an elder explained that the site is considered holy ground to the Shembe tribe.
Attempts to document the rescue operations were met with immediate resistance due to these cultural protocols. The security representative reported that upon taking out a phone to record the scene, a group of 10 to 15 individuals confronted them, stating that filming is strictly prohibited. Later, while returning to their vehicle, elders and other men approached and demanded to see the phone to ensure the footage was deleted. The representative respectfully complied with the request and withdrew from the scene, highlighting the cultural sensitivities and strict media restrictions currently enforced at the site while the search for missing workers continues.
