The tragic collapse of the building of the “La Merveille Omega” Institute in the commune of Bagira in Bukavu, in the province of South Kivu, has aroused great emotion in the region. The initial toll was 10 dead, but today, after careful research, it has been revised down to just 4 dead and one injured.
According to the bourgmestre of Bagira, Patience Bengehya, all those previously considered dead or missing have been found alive. He explains that the masons present on the site managed to escape when they felt the first signs of collapse. Unfortunately, the walls subsequently crumbled, leading to tragic loss of life. Among the victims are the prefect of the secondary school, the principal of the primary school, the educational advisers and a teacher candidate who was having a job interview.
The mayor attributes this accident to a construction defect, in particular the presence of a septic tank inside the building. This neglect would have weakened the structure, ultimately leading to its collapse.
The educational authorities of the province of South Kivu went to the scene of the tragedy to see the damage. This tragedy highlights the need to tighten building standards and ensure building safety, especially in schools where the lives of children and teaching staff are at stake.
This event also serves as a reminder of the importance of educating and training construction workers on safe and standard-compliant construction practices. It is crucial to put in place regular checks and thorough inspections to avoid such tragedies in the future.
In conclusion, the collapse of the “La Merveille Omega” Institute building in Bagira is a painful reminder of the tragic consequences of faulty construction. It underscores the urgency of improving building standards, training construction workers and strengthening controls to ensure building safety and the protection of human lives