Death toll in Tanzania building collapse rises to 20

By Lulu Angelo Sanga

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AA) - The death toll from the collapse of a building in Tanzania's Dar es Salaam rose to 20, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said on Wednesday.

Hassan made the announcement during a visit to the site where the four-story building collapsed on Saturday, shortly after returning from a G20 summit in Brazil.

She expressed condolences and highlighted concerns about construction standards as she addressed affected shop owners in Kariakoo district.

“This event has sent a strong message about the need to ensure the safety of our buildings in Kariakoo,” she said. “When I inspected the building, its structure, walls, and materials showed clear signs of mismanagement. A large building like this was constructed without consideration of the potential dangers.”

The president announced the formation of a 20-member commission to investigate the collapse and assured Tanzanians that its findings and recommendation, including the demolition of unsafe buildings, would be transparently implemented.

Regarding the possibility of finding more victims, Hassan said cleanup efforts would continue, prioritizing the recovery of belongings while searching for remaining bodies.

She said victims will be laid to rest with full respect, and retrieved properties will be secured, with rightful owners later invited to claim them.​​​​​​​