VIDEOS: Kariakoo building collapse: Business stalls as crowds hamper rescue effort

Dar es Salaam. The collapse of the four storey building at the junction of Congo/Mchikichini streets in Kariakoo has disrupted business activities as rescue efforts face significant challenges due to large crowds of onlookers.

Eyewitnesses reported that the structure crumbled shortly after construction activities began this morning to expand underground business spaces, a common practice among landlords in Dar es Salaam’s premier trade hub.

According to witnesses, construction work started yesterday (November 15, 2024), but just minutes after 9 AM this morning, the building began to collapse. Traders and customers are feared trapped on the lower floors, with some making desperate calls for help.

“At least four of my business colleagues are still trapped on the first floor. They are calling me and other colleagues for assistance,” a trader who owns a stall in the collapsed building told The Citizen.

The scene quickly became chaotic as concerned relatives, traders, and residents thronged the area, hindering the rescue efforts.

Despite police cordoning off the site and urging people to move back, the crowds have made it difficult for rescue teams to operate efficiently.

The Citizen observed police officers struggling to disperse the onlookers.

Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander, Jumanne Muliro, issued a stern warning over a public address system, giving an ultimatum for the crowd to disperse.

He cautioned that the police might resort to using tear gas if the public did not comply.

The situation escalated as soldiers from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) arrived at the scene to support the rescue mission.

Meanwhile, business activities in the busy Kariakoo market area, particularly at the intersection of Mchikichi and Congo Streets, have come to a halt.

Thousands of traders and customers have paused their operations, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones still buried under the rubble.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa is expected to arrive at the scene shortly, with an announcement made via local radio broadcasts.

His visit underscores the gravity of the situation.

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Albert Chalamila, confirmed that several injured victims have already been transported to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for treatment. Chalamila noted that although no fatalities have been officially reported yet, the number of injured continues to increase as more people are pulled from the debris.

Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as survivors, including several critically injured, were seen being carried away in tricycles and ambulances.

Some of the injured described hearing the cries of their colleagues still trapped beneath the rubble, pleading for swift rescue efforts.

The Fire and Rescue Brigade, alongside local traders and even foreign nationals present at the site, is working tirelessly to clear the debris.

Ambulance sirens have become a constant sound throughout Kariakoo as emergency services rush to transport the injured to medical facilities.

Authorities continue to urge the public to keep away from the site to facilitate a smoother rescue operation and avoid further hindrances.