Two bodies have so far been recovered from the rubbles of a
building that collapsed yesterday in Jinja District in eastern Uganda.
However,
Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, Ms Diana Nandawula said on Thursday
that rescue efforts by Fire and rescue services officers are underway to
find survivors.
She said it was still early to establish the total
number of victims from the accident that happened when the building
caved in at around 5pm while workers were doing finishing and others
were undertaking electricity installations.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers were also seen at the scene helping in the rescue efforts.
“We
have so far recovered two bodies and eight injured victims who are
currently admitted to Jinja regional referral hospital. We rescued four
others unhurt,” Ms Nandawula said on Thursday.
The bodies of the deceased who are yet to be identified were taken to Jinja referral hospital for autopsy.
After
the collapse which started with a loud bang, an equivalent of an
explosion yesterday, distress voices would be heard as trapped employees
cried out for help.
Rescue workers were by Thursday morning working against the clock with the hope of finding some of the stuck employees alive.
The
Kiira regional police commander, Mr Onesmus Mwesigwa, also said they
were doing all within their means to rescue the trapped people.
“We
shall give a detailed report after ascertaining how many people have
been retrieved from the debris. For now, we don’t know,” he said.
The Resident District Commissioner, Mr Eric Sakwa, said the building had 37 workers.
“We expect more bodies because the debris is heavy and we need more equipment to lift it,” he said.
Mr Ali Waida, a witness, said some workers sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.
Mr Simon Kasirye, a resident, attributed the collapse of the building to poor workmanship.
“They
used little cement and substandard iron bars of 12 millimetres instead
of 16 millimetres. The concrete was also weak,” he said.
Mr Benard Muwaya, a survivor, said construction of the building commenced in January 2018 and had reached the finishing stage.
The
Jinja Municipality speaker, Mr Moses Bizitu, said the building was
constructed without supervision from the municipal council engineer.
“There
was less supervision, less cement, poor workmanship and police delayed
to rescue the situation. People are using hoes and axes to retrieve the
dead and survivors,” he said.
The Uganda Red Cross manager Jinja
Branch, Mr William Male Kayiwa, said: “We are uncertain about the number
of people trapped in the building but we heard some crying.”
The collapsed building that is located on Plot 71, Gokhale Road, belongs to Mr Abudul Samali, a businessman of Somali origin.
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