Tragedy in Bukavu: The collapse of a building underlines the crucial importance of respecting construction standards
On Thursday August 10, the city of Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was the scene of a tragedy. A building housing a private school collapsed, killing at least four people. The mayor of the municipality of Bagira, Patience Bengehya Wangwabo, deplored the non-compliance with construction standards which would be at the origin of this tragedy.
According to the first information, a landslide would have caused the collapse of the building on the people who worked there. Among the victims were the prefect, the director of the primary school, the educational adviser and another person. A fifth person was injured and immediately taken to hospital.
This tragedy highlights once again the crucial importance of respecting construction standards. In many countries, building regulations are established to ensure the safety of buildings and the people who occupy them. However, failure to comply with these standards can lead to tragic consequences, such as the collapse of a building.
It is essential that the authorities ensure the strict application of building standards and the regularization of existing buildings. Rigorous checks must be carried out to ensure that the constructions meet the safety standards in force.
In addition, it is necessary to educate and make the population aware of the importance of respecting construction standards. Building owners and contractors should be aware of the risks involved in not complying with building regulations.
Finally, it is essential to encourage collaboration between the various players in the construction sector, such as architects, engineers and local authorities, in order to guarantee quality and safe construction.
This tragedy in Bukavu is a cruel reminder of the urgency of taking measures to ensure the safety of buildings and the protection of people