Four-floor building collapses in Tanzania's commercial hub, 5 dead

A four-story building collapsed Saturday (November 16) morning in the bustling Kariakoo market area of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.

The collapse has caused at least five fatalities and injured dozens more, according to rescue officials.

The incident occurred as shoppers frequented the market, leading to a frantic search for survivors. Hundreds of rescuers, including fire brigade personnel and volunteers, used bare hands, drills, and sledgehammers to sift through the debris, with excavators assisting in the effort.

“There is a possibility that more people are still trapped in the basement,” fire brigade commander Peter Mtui informed reporters.

The Tanzania Red Cross Society reported on X that at least 56 individuals had been rescued and transported to various hospitals.

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Witnesses cited by news outlet The Citizen said that the building had just begun expanding its underground business space on Friday (November 15), a day before the collapse.

Whether that is the cause of the collapse remains unknown.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the collapse, with preliminary reports suggesting potential structural deficiencies. The government has pledged to enforce stricter building regulations to prevent future occurrences.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, en route to the G20 summit in Brazil, expressed her sorrow over the tragedy.

This incident is reminiscent of a 2013 tragedy when a 16-story building collapsed in Dar es Salaam, resulting in 34 deaths.

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Dar es Salaam, a port city on the Indian Ocean coast, is home to over five million residents and is recognised as one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, according to data from the World Bank. The city’s rapid expansion has spurred a construction boom, raising concerns about building standards and safety regulations.

As rescue operations continue, the community mourns the loss of life and calls for accountability to ensure the safety of its residents.

With inputs from agencies