News24 | UPDATE | Death toll rises to five after shop wall collapses in Eastern Cape

Five people are dead and 15 others injured after a wall of the shop collapsed in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape on Friday.

• A fifth person is dead after a shop wall collapsed in Ngcobo on Friday afternoon. 
  
• Five other people sustained serious injuries in the incident. 
• Rescue teams were still on the scene on Friday night. 

The death toll has risen to five after a retail shop wall collapsed in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, on Friday afternoon. 

Four people died on the scene and a fifth person died in hospital.

The search and rescue operation to find survivors took six hours.

Five of the injured, who were admitted to All Saints Hospital in Ngcobo, have been transferred to high level of care at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, suffering from spinal injuries, head injuries, a pelvic fracture, a fractured leg and pelvis.

Eight other people were treated and discharged, and two are still receiving care at All Saints Hospital.

A spokesperson for the Eastern Cape's health department, Mkhululi Ndamase, said ambulances were dispatched to the shop shortly after 13:00.  

It is not clear what led to the collapse of the wall.

Eastern Cape police are investigating the incident. 

It is alleged that hawkers, who were nearby when the incident happened, are among the victims. 

The mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality, Lusanda Sizani, sent condolences to the affected families.

He said the disaster management team was dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident happened. 

"We wish the injured a speedy recovery," said Sizani.