A tragic incident unfolded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a residential building under construction collapsed, claiming the lives of seven individuals who were sleeping in a neighboring house. The catastrophe occurred at approximately 05:00 local time in Addis Ketema, a bustling neighborhood in the capital city.
According to reports from local media, among the victims were children aged four, 11, and 12. Nigatu Mamo, a spokesperson for the local authorities, lamented that the loss of lives was attributed to a lack of ventilation within the collapsed structure.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the collapse to ascertain its cause. This unfortunate event echoes a similar tragedy in 2022 when a building collapse in Merkato, one of Africa’s largest open markets, resulted in the loss of six lives and injuries to seven others.
Experts have pointed to substandard construction and lax regulatory oversight as contributing factors to such disasters, emphasizing the urgent need for improved building standards and stricter enforcement of regulations to prevent future tragedies.
