ENNERDALE - Search and rescue operations at an Ennerdale Landfill have been called off after community members confirmed that no one else is missing.
Part of the dump collapsed on Friday, claiming the life of one person.
READ: Landfill Collapse | Search for missing waste pickers on hold
One person was injured while another escaped unharmed.
While wastepickers fear the landfill could further cave in, they have no choice but to go back and continue making their livelihood by searching for recyclable material.
Community leader Johannes Mmolawa said, “on Friday, that dump fell on some people and I think on Friday three managed to get out and I think yesterday or the day before yesterday they got only one woman. So up to so far we can say there is no body else in there, we didn’t get any other complaints from the community. No one came from the family or whatever so this why we came here as the community to come and tell these people to quit the search. If there is anyone who can come in afterwards then we will call again so they can come and search again.
“We were working there on Friday and within 45 minutes the landfill collapsed.
Those who were close to me, we were speaking to each other and the other people I did not see who they were.
When it collapsed I saw one of the ladies falling into the landfill. I heard they found her body.
It’s quite dangerous but there’s nothing we can do, it’s how we survive and send our children to school.”