A no-fly zone has been declared over the disaster site in George where a building collapsed. The Garden Route District Joint Operational Centre says the restriction follows reports of a private drone flying over the rescue zone.

It has warned that anyone found violating this restriction will be subjected to criminal prosecution. At least 81 workers were on site when the construction site crashed.

At least 44 of them are still unaccounted for while nine people have died, 15 others are in critical condition in hospital and six have sustained life-threatening injuries. Seven escaped with minor injuries. They were pulled from the rubble.