News / Africa
At least 2 dead and dozens buried in Tanzania building collapse
29 Mar 2013 at 17:27hrs | Views
School children are among dozens of people missing in the rubble of a building that has collapsed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Reports said at least 45 people were buried and 17 had been pulled out of the debris.
At least two people have died but others are believed to be under the rubble, with some desperate survivors calling for help using their mobiles.
Among those trapped are believed to be a number of children from a school in the area.
An aerial view shows bystanders watching rescuers search for survivors amongst the rubble of a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam Dozens of people are believed trapped in the rubble
Hundreds of people, including residents and army rescuers, helped look for survivors at the scene after the collapse in an affluent area of the country's economic capital.
The 12-storey building collapsed as many people including children were working or playing nearby, witnesses said.
"I thought there was an earthquake and then I heard screaming. The whole building fell on itself," witness Musa Mohamed said.
Dar es Salaam regional police chief Suleiman Kova said the rescue operation was "going well".
Rescuers search for survivors amongst the rubble of a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam Rescuers search for survivors
Mr Kova said that although it was too early to establish the cause of the accident, "the owner of the building would be held responsible and taken to task".
Scores of people were reportedly working in and around the building at the time of the incident at around 8.45am, but most of those caught up in the collapse were passing by.
Residents said that during normal working days, the area bustles with activity from a mix of business people, passers-by and playing children.
Paramedics assist a construction worker who was rescued from a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam A survivor is pulled from the rubble
"My children normally come to play here during Sundays and holidays. I am not sure whether they are also trapped," one desperate local resident Elizabeth Richard sobbed.
In 2008, another building collapse in Dar es Salaam claimed at least four lives.
Reports said at least 45 people were buried and 17 had been pulled out of the debris.
At least two people have died but others are believed to be under the rubble, with some desperate survivors calling for help using their mobiles.
Among those trapped are believed to be a number of children from a school in the area.
An aerial view shows bystanders watching rescuers search for survivors amongst the rubble of a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam Dozens of people are believed trapped in the rubble
Hundreds of people, including residents and army rescuers, helped look for survivors at the scene after the collapse in an affluent area of the country's economic capital.
The 12-storey building collapsed as many people including children were working or playing nearby, witnesses said.
Dar es Salaam regional police chief Suleiman Kova said the rescue operation was "going well".
Rescuers search for survivors amongst the rubble of a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam Rescuers search for survivors
Mr Kova said that although it was too early to establish the cause of the accident, "the owner of the building would be held responsible and taken to task".
Scores of people were reportedly working in and around the building at the time of the incident at around 8.45am, but most of those caught up in the collapse were passing by.
Residents said that during normal working days, the area bustles with activity from a mix of business people, passers-by and playing children.
Paramedics assist a construction worker who was rescued from a collapsed building in the Kariakoo district of central Dar es Salaam A survivor is pulled from the rubble
"My children normally come to play here during Sundays and holidays. I am not sure whether they are also trapped," one desperate local resident Elizabeth Richard sobbed.
In 2008, another building collapse in Dar es Salaam claimed at least four lives.
Source - Sky
