Deaths in a Building Collapse in Ivory Coast

Firefighters reported that a six-story building collapsed while under construction in Abidjan, the commercial capital of Ivory Coast, yesterday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven construction workers at the site. One worker stated that around noon local time, workers heard "cracking" sounds as the building started to collapse around them. He added, "We were in a hurry and began to run... In 45 seconds, the building collapsed." Rescue efforts continue at the site in the upscale "Riviera Palmeraie" area of Abidjan amid a large pile of concrete and debris. Charles Paolo, the head of the firefighting unit at the site, mentioned that nine other people were injured in the collapse. Such incidents are relatively common in Ivory Coast and other parts of West Africa, especially during the rainy season, due to inadequate enforcement of building regulations and the frequent use of substandard construction materials.