A man in Tanzania’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, has told the BBC he is waiting for news about his mother, who remains trapped two days after a building collapsed.
Rescuers have so far pulled 86 people alive from the rubble, but 16 are known to have died, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said.
Emmanuel told the BBC that his mother was working in the building when it collapsed on Saturday morning.
“She called me and later told me she had to serve customers. Two hours later I was told the building had collapsed,” he said.
“The rescue team told us they are in contact with her and other people there.
“Looking at the efforts being made, we have hope that she will come out alive, we leave that to God.”
Emmanuel is among a number of people waiting for messages from loved ones trapped in the collapsed building, which is located in the busy Kariakoo market area. However, it is not clear how many people are still in custody
Rescuers have sent water, glucose and oxygen to those trapped in small holes in the rubble.
Prime Minister Majaliwa said once the mission to extract everyone from the rubble is completed, an investigation will be launched into the cause of the collapse. Authorities have been pursuing the building owner for information about the incident.
Mr Majaliwa was speaking at a ceremony at the Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam, where thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects and collect the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
The Prime Minister said of those rescued alive, five remained under observation in hospital.
“Rescue activities will continue day and night until we rescue the last person,” he said.
After the building first gave way around 9 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, hundreds of first responders used sledgehammers and their bare hands to pull away the rubble, AFP news agency reported.
Cranes and other heavy machinery were later brought in to help.
Fortunately, the building was demolished before the market became too busy.
A team of 19 people has been formed to inspect buildings in the city. The group will assess structural integrity and recommend safety measures in an effort to prevent future tragedies.
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