Collapsed building and community searching for people trapped underneath. Photo by Kumeil
About an hour ago a friend in Dar es Salaam sent me a link to the photo above.
A building under construction on Indira Ghandi Street (next to India Street next to the KSIJ Mosque, Habib Bank and Ebrahim Haji Hospital) collapsed this morning around 8:00 (see map below).
Nearby is a football field used by children. Over 60 persona, including children, are reported missing according to ITV. No confirmations at this early stage.
Recent pictures of the building (centre) before it collapsed:
Recent photo of building before collapse. Photo by Khuzeimaz.
Recent photo of building (right) before collapse. Photo by Khuzeimaz.
Map of the area:
View Larger Map
I have asked the question many times: Growth, but for whom? Read here and here.
I am in no position to place blame. But it is hard not to ask questions. Who allows
these constructions which evidently aren't safe? Who controls the
processes, the materials and the buildings? The daily The African asked
similar questions on March 4 2013, a building collapsed in the Kijito
Nyama area then.
How many buildings will have to collapse before? How many casualties? This is about greed. And lack of focus on what's important in life. It will take no one nowhere.
Thanks to Khuzeima Y. Zavery and Kumeil for tweets and photos, and answering questions for the specific details for this blog post. Check tweets in the sidebar or here.
Please take into consideration that the collapse has only just happened, and that certain pieces of information, i.e. in regards to casualties, have not yet been confirmed.
Sad day for Dar es Salaam and the people who have lost relatives, students and neighbours.