The death toll from the collapse of a four-story building in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has risen to 20, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at the site in the Kariakoo district, where the tragedy occurred on Saturday, President Hassan expressed condolences to the affected families and raised concerns about construction standards. Her visit came shortly after returning from the G20 summit in Brazil.
“This incident underscores the urgent need to ensure the safety of buildings in Kariakoo,” Hassan said. “Upon inspection, it was evident that the structure, walls, and materials were poorly managed, posing serious risks.”
The president announced the establishment of a 20-member commission to investigate the collapse, promising transparency in addressing its findings. She emphasized that unsafe buildings identified through the inquiry could face demolition.
Cleanup operations remain underway, focusing on recovering belongings and searching for additional victims. Hassan assured that all recovered possessions would be safeguarded until rightful owners could claim them and that victims would be buried with due respect.
The incident has sparked national debate on urban construction practices and the enforcement of safety regulations.
