VIDEO: Death toll climbs to five, 42 injured in Kariakoo building collapse

Dar es Salaam. At least five people have been confirmed dead and 42 others injured following the collapse of a four-storey building in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam's bustling commercial hub, on Saturday morning.

The scene commander from the Fire and Rescue Force, Mr Peter Mtui, said rescue operations were ongoing, with all security forces involved.

“There is a possibility that more people are still trapped in the basement, and that’s why we continue with the rescue operation,” Mr Mtui told reporters.

He assured the public of regular updates as efforts to locate and assist those trapped under the rubble continued.

Muhimbili National Hospital executive director, Prof Mohamed Janabi, said the hospital received a total of 40 survivors, and 33 have been released.

"We have remained with seven survivors whose conditions are stable, and we will be in a position to discharge them soon," said Prof Janabi.

The collapsed building housed business stalls and light cargo, and the cause of the incident is yet to be determined.

However, the Kariakoo high-rise buildings are known to be at risk due to what experts described as violation of standards and laws.

In 2013, 64 buildings located in the Kariakoo area, were named to be at risk of collapsing after investigations revealed that they were constructed in violation of the law and below standard.

A company contracted to inspect the buildings in Ilala Municipality, Design Plus Architects (DPA), found that out of 90 inspected buildings, 64 were constructed unlawfully.

The decision to hire a private firm for building inspections followed the collapse of a 16-storey building in March 2013, which claimed 36 lives.

The company said what was happening in Kariakoo is simply ‘chaos’.

Even those who use the approved plans have altered the designs to serve their own goals.

“There are alterations on the plans,” said a preliminary report by the inspector.

The report unleashed impending disaster and imminent health consequences.

“The buildings are entirely clustered and heavily compacted to each other hence inhabitable,” the report stated.

Samia prayers

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, enroute to the G20 Summit in Brazil, expressed her sorrow over the tragedy and called for immediate action.

“I am deeply saddened to receive news of the collapse of a high-rise building in Kariakoo Ward, Ilala District, Dar es Salaam Region,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

She said she has instructed the Dar es Salaam Regional Administration, the Police Force, the Fire and Rescue Brigade, the Management of Muhimbili National Hospital, and the Disaster Management Department to ensure the success of the rescue operation and provide medical care to the injured.

“As these efforts continue, and as we pray to God for the swift recovery of the injured, let us also pray for patience and comfort for the families, relatives, friends, and our fellow Tanzanians who strive to make a living in this key commercial area, all of whom have been affected in various ways by this tragedy,” the President added.

Rescue workers are racing against time to pull survivors from the rubble, with fears that more victims may still be trapped.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as emergency services worked tirelessly to save lives.

The building collapse is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the region, sparking renewed calls for stricter enforcement of building codes and safety standards.

Further updates are expected as investigations continue and rescue efforts progress.