14 dead in building collapse

2009-07-10 10:51

Bujumbura - At least 14 workers were killed, 40 others injured and several buried under rubble when a building under construction collapsed in central Burundi, medical officials said.

"Since the building collapsed this morning we have pulled 54 people from the rubble," the head of the hospital in the town of Gitega, Frederic Irambona, said.

Among the 54 people, "14 were found dead or died later and 40 are injured, nine seriously, who were taken to Bujumbura", the capital which lies 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the west.

Officials said about 150 workers were at the construction site at the time of the accident.

The building was to house offices of the Burundian presidential party. Sources said the area was off-limits for the media.

"This morning the construction site manager was assigning jobs when the third floor collapsed bringing down all other floors below; unfortunately everybody was buried," presidential party chief Jeremie Ngendakimana said by telephone.

- SAPA