Audio By Carbonatix
A man in Tanzania's biggest city, Dar es Salaam, has told the BBC he is waiting to hear news of his mother, who remains trapped two days after a building collapsed.
Rescuers have so far pulled 86 people from the rubble alive but 16 are known to have died, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said.
Emmanuel Mallya told the BBC his mother was working in the building when it fell on Saturday morning.
"She called me and later told me that she was attending to customers. Two hours later, I was informed that the building had collapsed," he said.
"The rescue team told us they are in touch with her and other people there.
“Looking at the efforts being done, we have hope that she will come up alive, we do leave that to God."
Mr Mallya is among a number of people waiting to hear from loved ones trapped by the collapsed building, which is located in the busy Kariakoo market area. However, it is not clear how many people remain trapped
Rescuers have been sending supplies of water, glucose and oxygen to those trapped through small gaps in the debris.
Prime Minister Majaliwa said once the mission to retrieve everyone from the rubble is complete, an investigation into the cause of the collapse will be launched. The authorities have been pursuing the building's owner for information about the incident.
Mr Majaliwa was speaking at a ceremony in Dar es Salaam's Mnazi Mmoja grounds, where thousands of mourners gathered to pay their respects and collect the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
The prime minister said that of those rescued alive, five remained in hospital under observation.
"The rescue activities will continue day and night until we get the last person saved," he said.
After the building first gave way at about 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Saturday morning, hundreds of first responders used sledgehammers and their bare hands to pull away the debris, the AFP news agency reported.
Cranes and other heavy machinery were later brought in to help.
Fortunately, the building came down before the market area had become too busy.
A team of 19 people has been formed to inspect buildings across the city. The group will assess structural integrity and recommend safety measures in an effort to prevent future tragedies.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana needs a law to sustain constitutional reforms – CDD-Ghana
1 hour -
COVID fumigation audit: Auditor-General has a lot of questions to answer – Akwatia MP
1 hour -
Stranded Ghanaian medical graduates in Cuba appeal to Mahama for immediate return
1 hour -
GNFS contains fire outbreak at Teshie Lekma Road near Lekma Hospital
8 hours -
Samia Nkrumah rejects the narrative that Ghanaians were happy after Nkrumah’s overthrow
9 hours -
A Mother’s pain: Tribute by Ivan Baidoo’s mother
9 hours -
‘Forgive us for staying away’ — Samia Nkrumah leads family back to Nkroful, pledges to preserve Nkrumah’s legacy
9 hours -
Ernest Nuamah scores twice as Lyon beat Rennes
9 hours -
‘My dear Ivan’ – A father’s tribute to a son tragically killed
9 hours -
GNPC Explorco advances Voltaian Basin drilling preparations with 13.5km access road
9 hours -
Cabinet approves facility manager for Borteyman Sports Complex – Kofi Adams
10 hours -
Sanitation is improving; critics may be ‘living in another world’ – Salaga South MP replies Bekwai MP
10 hours -
Government must do more to tackle sanitation crisis – Bekwai MP
10 hours -
World Cleanup Day: GFF begins sanitation education in local communities
11 hours -
EU Ambassador, IGP discuss stronger cooperation on policing and security
11 hours