INANDA, KwaZulu-Natal — An extensive rescue operation is underway in Inanda following a retaining wall collapse at the Nazareth Baptist Church in eBuhleni village, an incident that has left eight workers injured. The structural failure north of Durban has buried a section of the site under meters of loose sand, prompting a coordinated, multi-agency emergency response to secure the area and locate any missing individuals.
ALS paramedic Massimo Galassi confirmed that eight individuals were pulled from the debris before additional emergency units arrived on the scene. Of those rescued, six sustained moderate injuries, while two were critically hurt. Galassi noted that the injured workers were privately transported to a nearby clinic for urgent medical care.
The incident involved a concrete block retaining wall, standing approximately four to five meters tall, which was being constructed to hold back soft sand. When the wall gave way, it blanketed roughly 800 square meters of the work area in loose sand up to five meters deep. Authorities have not confirmed the total headcount of laborers present at the time, leaving uncertainty about whether additional individuals remain buried beneath the heavy rubble.
Command of the incident has been assumed by the eThekwini Fire Brigade. They are working alongside specialized search and rescue units from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Metro Police. Crews are currently deploying a Tractor Loader Backhoe (TLB) combined with manual shoveling to carefully sift through the hazardous, unstable terrain and determine if anyone is still trapped.
The rescue effort is further complicated by strict access controls and deep-rooted cultural protocols. Church members have actively denied media access to the location. A representative from Marshall Security Community Support, who initially arrived to offer coordination assistance, described the site as deeply sacred to the Shembe tribe. The representative observed that many locals were barefoot, and upon asking an elder about the significance, was informed that they were standing on holy ground.
Attempts to document the emergency response were swiftly halted due to these cultural boundaries. The security representative noted that upon taking out a phone to record the scene, a group of 10 to 15 individuals immediately approached, objecting to any filming on the premises. Acknowledging the cultural restrictions, the representative stepped back and began to leave. However, upon returning to their vehicle, elders and other men approached again, demanding to inspect the phone and ensure any recorded footage was erased. The representative respectfully complied with the request and departed the area, leaving the multi-agency teams to continue their critical search under restricted conditions.