Angolan authorities have recovered nearly 135 million kwanzas (around $250,000) from the rubble of the building that collapsed in central Luanda on Saturday, with no reports of casualties.
The information was provided by the spokesperson for the civil defense and fire services, Félix Domingos, quoted in a statement by the Provincial Government of Luanda (GPL) at a time when work is still underway to remove the debris from the building, located on Avenida Comandante Valódia.
“The amount is in the custody of the authorities, after the confiscation period has been formalized. Citizens who intend to claim the amount must do so under the terms of the law”promotes the GPL.
The building was home to 18 families, who moved temporarily after the anomalies were discovered, and several commercial establishments operated.
The neighboring buildings had been reinforced with props, Lusa found on the spot.
Much of the debris has already been removed and civil defense teams and some machinery are still working to remove the debris and recover and catalog the existing assets, while the avenue in that section remains closed to traffic.
The six-storey building belongs to the Fundo de Investimento Imobiliário – FUNDINVEST, according to which the cause of the collapse is related to a “rupture of the pipes in the water distribution networks of the neighboring building”, which contributed to the loss of support capacity of the building’s foundation soil.
Several videos circulating on social media show the moment of the collapse and some people hurriedly fleeing, before the building disintegrates in a cloud of dust.
Several vehicles were also destroyed.
Source: DN
