Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s president, has confirmed that 20 people died in the collapse of a building in the busy Kariakoo district in the centre of Dar es Salaam.

The building, which contained shops and other businesses, collapsed on Saturday, 16 November. Rescue efforts continued to Wednesday, after the usual 72-hour rescue period was extended by a day.

Hassan was quoted by local media as saying: “I firmly believe that God can perform miracles and enable us to save more of our people who are still trapped in the rubble. I am instructing that the rescue operations must not stop.”

She visited survivors at Muhimbili National Hospital, and told them that the government would support their full recovery and would “protect your property at the fateful building”. By Joe Quirke, GCR