Tanzania: Dar es Salaam building collapse 'traps dozens'

At least three people have been killed and dozens more are trapped after a multi-storey building collapsed in the centre of the main Tanzanian city, Dar es Salaam, rescue workers say. Thirteen people have been pulled out of the ruins alive, officials say. Some 45 people, including construction workers, residents and children from a Koranic school, are missing. 

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete at the Indira Ghandi  Street in Dar es Salaam today being accompanied by his wife Mama Salma Kikwete. President arrived at the scene at one oclock

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete receiving information from the Chief of Police Special Zone of Dar es Salaam, Mr. Suleiman Kova and Regional Commissioner.

MHE Kikwete aliwasili mtaa wa Indira Ghandi jijini Dar es salaam leo akiwa ameongozana na mkewe Mama Salma Kikwete

 

The BBC's Hassan Mhelela says the high-rise building under construction is now a "huge pile of chaos".

 

Eyewitness Nishit Surelia told the BBC what she saw:

"I was on my way out to play volleyball this morning at about 0845 [0545 GMT] when there was a huge noise and the building collapsed behind me.

"Everyone started running, thinking it was an earthquake. There was dust everywhere. We then realised what had happened."

Our reporter says a huge crane is pulling out a mass of iron bars to get access to the centre of the building, where some people are thought to be still alive.

Trapped victims are said to have been making phone calls to friends and relatives.

Bulldozers are also being used to move the rubble, our reporter says.

He says there are large crowds of onlookers, as well as rescue workers and armed police officers at the scene.

The collapsed building was near a mosque, as well as other residential and commercial properties in central Dar es Salaam.

It was supposed to have been at least 12 floors high when finished.