Building collapse in Tabangoye: The mayor of Kaolack calls for a census of buildings threatening to collapse

Following the collapse of a building on Saturday night in Tabangoye, Kaolack, which left one dead and three injured, the mayor of the city, Serigne Mboup, reacted by calling for lessons to be learned from this tragedy and for prevention to be strengthened.

In a message of condolence, the mayor expressed his compassion to the victim's family, as well as to the entire community of Tabangoye, the daaras and the Muslim community.

Serigne Mboup also praised the mobilization of the authorities and rescue services. He specifically thanked the prefect, Lieutenant-Colonel Erasme Sambou, commander of fire and rescue group no. 3 and his team, as well as the local residents who mobilized during the rescue and search operations.

The mayor stressed that despite the difficult conditions and the wait for specialized detection equipment from Dakar, the rescue teams worked tirelessly to assist the victims and search for the person carried under the rubble.

For Serigne Mboup, this new accident should serve as a wake-up call. "We must learn the lessons and act," he insisted, recalling that a similar event had already occurred last year in the city.

In consultation with the prefect, the town hall intends to take administrative measures concerning the damaged building, as well as any other building posing a risk to the public. Safety measures and demolition, when necessary, could be implemented in accordance with applicable procedures.

Serigne Mboup also urges residents to report any buildings showing cracks, subsidence, or other signs of structural weakness to the municipal services. The mayor's office states it is prepared to review reported situations with the relevant departments in order to intervene before a tragedy occurs.

The mayor finally asks the governor of Kaolack and the territorial command to urgently convene a regional development committee (CRD) dedicated to buildings threatening to collapse.

The objective is to identify buildings at risk, to organize the necessary inspections, to clarify responsibilities and to put in place a permanent prevention and alert system.

“A house can be rebuilt. A lost life cannot be replaced,” recalls Serigne Mboup, who believes that preventing collapses should be a shared responsibility between the State, the town hall, the emergency services, the owners, the neighborhood leaders and the population.