DAR ES SALAAM, NOV 27 – The Tanzanian government on Tuesday raised the death toll from a building collapse in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, to 29.
The tragedy that occurred on November 16, in one of the fastest growing cities in the world, prompted President Samia Suluhu Hassan to promise to improve building safety standards.
After the death toll of 20 victims announced by Hassan last week, the Tanzanian government’s chief spokesman, Tobias Makoba, told reporters that the clean-up operation at the scene had been completed after rescue teams had cleared all the rubble.
“The death toll rose to 29 after more bodies were found,” Makoba said, adding that “three bodies are undergoing DNA tests for identity verification.”
He also informed that two other victims are still being treated in hospital due to their injuries.
With a population of five million people, Dar es Salaam is experiencing a rapid real estate boom, where buildings are built quickly and often in disregard of regulations.
Buildings in Kariakoo, the East African country’s busiest market area, collapsed as people shopped.
Following the incident, the government announced the establishment of a commission to inspect all buildings in the busy commercial area of Kariakoo.
President Hassan promised that the report would be made public.
In 2013, the collapse of a 16-story building claimed 34 lives. – AFP
