An eight-story building collapsed in Mogadishu due to negligence, killing at least 3 people. The house collapsed Wednesday night in the Bakara Market of Somalia’s capital. The victims reportedly hailed from one family. Unfortunately, this is not the first time a building collapsed in Mogadishu.
Hawle Wadag District, Mogadishu, SOMALIA. By Jama:
Emergency workers confirmed that at least three people died and several others sustained injuries after an apartment building collapsed in Hawle Wadag District. One girl is still missing. Authorities arrested the owner of the building alongside two civil engineers responsible for its construction.
The exact area of the accident is Arwo Limooni of the Bakara Market. The tragedy occurred when an eight-story building collapsed into a four-story house, which fell on a villa where the victims lived. The three victims include a mother and her two daughters, while another 14-year-old daughter remains missing.
Weak material; poor regulations
The tragedy should serve as a critical warning, as other buildings in Mogadishu could face a similar fate. They have often been built using beach sand, which contains high rates of salt. Salt in the cement significantly lowers its quality, increasing the risk of collapses. Perhaps most importantly, the dangers are heightened by the absence of adequate regulations.
Not the first incident
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated accident. In May this year, four children died after an old building collapsed, hitting a house where the victims slept. The tragedy occurred in Mogadishu’s Shangani district. District Commissioner Aweys Amudi expressed grief over the accident which happened in his district. He called upon other families living inside or near such old buildings to alert authorities in order to prevent such tragedies. Parents of the young victims explained they could not afford to live in a modern house.
Back in 2016, a mosque collapsed in the same city, killing 15 people and injuring at least 40 others. The place of worship was under refurbishment. Despite that, prayers were still taking place in the mosque, and when the accident occurred, the place was packed with worshippers. Similar to the Wednesday night accident, authorities arrested the engineer in charge of the refurbishment and accused him of negligence.
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