Written by: Mohammed Omran
Guinea’s capital Conakry witnessed a humanitarian disaster on Friday after a nine-story residential building collapsed in the Demodola area of Ratoma municipality, resulting in a number of casualties and others trapped under the rubble, while rescue teams continue to search for survivors.
A nine-story building collapsed in Conakry; there are dead and missing, and rescue operations are ongoing.
According to initial reports, the collapse occurred suddenly, burying a number of people under the rubble. Authorities have confirmed fatalities, but the death toll remains preliminary and is expected to rise as search and rescue operations continue.
Authorities have deployed civil protection teams, supported by security forces and volunteers, to the scene of the accident, where heavy equipment and search teams are being used to lift the rubble and reach those trapped, in a race against time to rescue any survivors.
The authorities have not yet announced the official reasons behind the building's collapse, while the authorities have opened an urgent investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible, especially in light of the repeated incidents of building collapses in some areas.
Authorities urged residents to stay away from the site of the collapse and not to gather in crowds, in order to facilitate the movement of ambulances and rescue teams and ensure the rapid implementation of relief operations.
Local circles are awaiting the announcement of a final death toll after the search operations are completed, while field efforts continue amid fears that more people may be trapped under the rubble.
