BOLIVIA: Rescue crews work around the clock to free people trapped alive in building collapse

Record ID: 216178

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Rescue crews work around the clock to free people trapped alive in building collapse
  • Date: 30th January 2011
  • Summary: SANTA CRUZ , BOLIVIA (JANUARY 28, 2011) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) ( ** NIGHT SCENES **) EMERGENCY CREWS WORKING IN AREA OF COLLAPSED BUILDING POLICE PROVIDING SECURITY VARIOUS OF PERUVIAN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVING AT SITE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CESAR VILLEGAS, PERUVIAN RESCUE COMMANDER, SAYING: "Well Peru, like other Latin American countries, has been developing, in a parallel
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA8GBSAC7G3P4HDRPBEDQKFV0VD
  • Story Text: Latin American rescue teams travel to Santa Cruz after a building collapse leaves at least 10 people trapped alive under rubble.
    International rescue teams worked around the clock on Friday (January 28) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia to pull survivors from out of the rubble of a collapsed building.
    Ten people are believed to still be buried under the tons of concrete after a new 10-story residential building, which was under construction but nearly finished, collapsed four days ago.
    A rescue team from Peru arrived late on Friday (January 28), the second from the neighboring Andean country.
    Peruvian rescue commander Cesar Villegas said his 12-member team, which has worked in Haiti, Mexico and Brazil, is prepared to work collaboratively with the groups already on the ground.
    "Well Peru, like other Latin American countries, has been developing, in a parallel manner, a technique and joint work. We came with equipment to join the efforts," he said.
    Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico sent workers and supplies after a plea for help from the Peruvian government.
    The Malaga building came crashing down late Monday night after apparent support failures as construction workers were completing urgent reinforcements on structural cracks.
    Some 16 people, mostly construction workers, were buried inside the collapsed building.
    Relatives of the workers sat vigil outside the disaster zone, praying aloud.
    Survivors have been tapping and knocking to signal their location.
    Crews lowered a scanner to detect air pockets where people may still be alive and Bolivian crews drilled holes to send food and oxygen to the victims along with a probe to capture images and sound from underground.
    So far at least three places have been located were rescue workers say they believe survivors might be huddled up.
    Maria Jimenez is related to one of the trapped men, Armando Jimenez, and she said the information family members are receiving has given them hope.
    "They tell us that there are signs of life and that's our hope. God willing, they are all still alive," she said.
    Located near the central plaza in Santa Cruz's historic district, the building contained 43 apartments. Its website showed a stylish, modern design with an inviting swimming pool and 24-hour security.
    Officials have said it was still too early to say what caused the collapse but a full investigation would be carried out.
    The accident has revealed an extreme lack of human and technical resources in the Andean nation to deal with disasters.
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