1st April 2013
Bishop Dr Alex Malasusa, Head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Tanzania (ELCT), blesses faithful during Easter Mass at
Azania Front Church in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
(Photo: Khalfan Said)
The death toll from Saturday’s collapsed 16-storey building rose to 29 yesterday and the rescue team fears it may yet go up again as rescuers comb through the ruins.
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Meck Sadiki told The Guardian yesterday over the phone that the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF) were cooperating with private rescue groups, working day and night to ensure they pull out any remaining victims.
“The rescue operation is a non-stop ... we are determined not to leave any stone unturned ...,” asserted the RC.
For security reasons, the tenants in the vicinity have also been evacuated from the area after building inspections revealed that their structural integrity has been undermined and places the residents at risk.
“We’ve discovered that the walls of those buildings have cracked really bad …,” he revealed.
The RC also reported that the National Housing Cooperation (NHC) has been ordered to officially suspend the tenants’ contracts until the safety of the buildings is restored.
During Sunday Easter mass, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) head Bishop Dr Alex Malasusa asked Tanzanians to pray for those who died from the collapsed building.
“This is not the right time for pointing fingers … what we should do is to pray for the injured as well as the dead …,” advised the cleric.
Bishop Malasusa is not against an inquiry as to the cause of the collapse but maintains that instead of speculations, the public ought to await official query results from respective authorities.
Speaking at the Azania Front in Dar es Salaam, Bishop Malasusa also cautioned the authorities to learn from the incident referring to it as “preventable if we follow expert advice.”
Incidentally, as reported by The Guardian on Sunday, President Jakaya Kikwete was rushed from the vicinity of the collapse site after a nearby building was reported to be in danger of collapsing at any moment.
The President, who was scheduled to visit the tragic site for the second time yesterday, but even after coming as close as an approximated 60 metres, he failed to do so.
In the company of his wife Mama Salma, he instead visited the four survivors, two adults at the Muhimbili National Hospital and two children at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI).
At least 17 people sustained injuries and received medical treatment.
Until otherwise informed, the government has ordered people living in another building owned by the developer of the ill-fated structure to vacate their premises for their safety following reports that, the twin building is also likely to collapse.
RC Sadiq issued the order on Saturday and it is reported that most have complied. Given that the residents of the collapsed building and most others that are high end real estate close to the central business district have been admitted to their own community centres and temples.
According to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Commander Suleiman Kova, the construction of the collapsed building which stood on plot number 1662/75 was allegedly done illegally.
The building is 16-storey-high but the contractor’s license is reported to be only for construction of 10-storey building.
But despite the extra 6 floors, the dangerous ploy went undetected for years, raising questions over the authority’s ability to monitor and enforce safety precautions to protect its citizens and investments.
The RC made it clear however that, the owner of the building, Ali Radha, as well as the involved constructor on Saturday turned themselves in and are in custody for questioning while investigations are going on.
In total eight persons are in custody, he said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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