Luanda civil defense refutes report on causes of building collapse

Luanda’s provincial civil protection commission this Sunday dismissed the existence of a report on the causes of Saturday’s building collapse in the Angolan capital, stressing that authorities “will present a summary study.”

“The existence of a ‘suspected’ report suggesting possible causes leading to the collapse of the building referred to in the press release by Fundinvest has been ruled out and the competent authorities will present a summary study,” the statement said. from the Provincial Government of Luanda (GPL)

The six-story building is owned by the Fundivest Real Estate Investment Fund, which issued a statement on Saturday pointing to “burst pipes in the water mains of a neighboring house” as a possible cause of the collapse, which contributed to the loss of bearing capacity of the foundation’s earth support, citing a report from the Angolan Engineering Laboratory.

The building was inhabited by 18 families who were relocated, while “the possibility of finding human victims among the rubble of the house 76-78 on Avenida Comandante Volodya is practically excluded, given that the authorities have begun timely and safe evacuation of infrastructure facilities.” ” adds the GPL statement.

Luanda’s provincial civil protection commission today acknowledged that it is ending operations and is proposing that the organization responsible for the construction “strengthen dialogue with residents for next steps.”

They stress that at today’s meeting there was “a recommendation for greater rapprochement and dialogue between the private organization that owns the building and the tenants’ commission, especially with regard to responsibilities and subsequent agreements.”

Fundinvest is managed by Eaglestone Capital, according to information available on the Banco Angolano de Investimentos (BAI) website, which sold this closed-end real estate investment fund launched on April 30, 2022.

“The Fund will direct its investments to the acquisition of real estate objects, namely: the acquisition of real estate objects or autonomous parts intended for housing, trade, services, warehouse and industrial buildings, as well as land rights, with the aim of promoting the division, construction and development of enterprises in the field real estate,” the launch announcement reads.

Agency Agência Lusa contacted Fundinvest via email for clarification regarding the alleged cause report and ongoing negotiations with residents, but so far without a response.

The authorities also reported that the stabilization of the adjacent building for research has already been carried out, the installation of fences, cleaning and opening of the avenue has begun, therefore, at this evening’s meeting, the commission should consider the work completed.

934 personnel and 92 means of civil protection services and firefighters, the National Police, the Criminal Investigation Service, public and private construction organizations were involved in the search and removal of debris.

Previously, on March 24, from 18:00 to 22:00, residents were notified of the need to evacuate due to an impending landslide and were relocated.

About four hours later, the building collapsed.

Several videos circulating on social media show the moment of collapse and people hurriedly fleeing before the building, which also housed commercial establishments, crumbled into a cloud of dust.

Several vehicles were also destroyed.

It was also announced today that the Angolan authorities have recovered almost 135 million kwanzas (about 250 thousand euros) from the rubble of the building, the amount has not yet been claimed.

“The amount is in the custody of the authorities after the term of the arrest was formalized. Citizens who intend to claim this amount must do so in accordance with the provisions of the law,” promotes the GPL.