News Africa

Rescuers send water through holes to building collapse trapped

Rescue teams in Tanzania say they have managed to establish contact with people who are still trapped a day after a four-storey building collapsed in the biggest city, Dar es Salaam.

They are managing to send them supplies of water, glucose and oxygen through small gaps in the debris.

Tapping sounds have been heard from inside the building in the city’s busy Kariakoo market area.

Five people are known to have died, while 77 have so far been brought out alive.

Large crowds of bystanders applauded as rescue teams ferried survivors on stretchers past huge piles of concrete debris to take them to hospital.

Seven people were rescued on Sunday from the building’s basement, Dar es Salaam’s regional commissioner Albert Chalamila told The Citizen newspaper.

“We are hopeful that more survivors will be found,” he said.

It is not clear how many people remain trapped.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the authorities “won’t rest until we have made sure we have been able to rescue each and every person or soul who is trapped in the rubble”.

After the building first gave way at about 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Saturday morning, hundreds of first responders used sledgehammers and their bare hands to pull away the debris, reports the AFP news agency.

Cranes and other heavy machinery were later brought in to help.

Fortunately, the building came down before the market area had become too busy.

Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the collapse, but investigations are expected to begin once rescue efforts are complete.

Dar es Salaam is one of the world’s fastest-growing cities and reports say that building regulations are not always enforced.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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