BOLIVIA: No chance of finding survivors in collapsed Bolivian building - government official.

Record ID: 216234

  • Title: BOLIVIA: No chance of finding survivors in collapsed Bolivian building - government official.
  • Date: 30th January 2011
  • Summary: SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA (JANUARY 29, 2011) (REUTERS) HOOK ON CRANE GENERAL VIEW OF COLLAPSED BUILDING VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION GENERAL VIEW OF BOLIVIAN FIREFIGHTERS AMONG THE RUINS VARIOUS OF RESCUERS IN AND AMONG THE DISASTER ZONE GENERAL VIEW OF GROUP GATHERED AT READING OF DAILY REPORT - THOSE GATHERED INCLUDE: GOVERNMENT MINISTER SACHA LLORENTI, SANTA CRUZ GOVERNOR RUB
  • Embargoed: 14th February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA6CR5VZX2CTGHK6SZUTHC5PF09
  • Story Text: Bolivian authorities say there is no chance of finding survivors in a collapsed Santa Cruz buidling. The search-and-rescue mission has been haulted and recovery efforts have begun.
    Bolivian authorities declared on Saturday (January 29) and end to the search-and-rescue mission for survivors among the rubble of a collapsed building in Santa Cruz.
    The operation moved into a recovery phase as teams began using heavy machinery to look for bodies of victims.
    The grim news came after international rescue teams had worked around the clock on Friday (January 28) Bolivia to pull survivors from the ruins.
    Authorities and relatives were hopeful that ten people were still alive, though buried under tons of concrete after a new 10-story residential building, which was under construction but nearly finished, collapsed four days ago.
    Rescue team from Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico had joined the search for survivors.
    "And the latest analysis this morning indicates that there is no chance of finding survivors. The commanders of the different response groups that make up the Incident Command have decided to move to a second phase aimed at recovering victims," said a spokesman for the Santa Cruz governor's office, Guillermo Saucedo.
    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 had been holding a vigil outside the disaster zone, praying aloud.
    Survivors had been tapping and knocking to signal their location.
    Crews lowered a scanner to detect air pockets where they thought people may have been 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.
    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.
    "It has been confirmed and verified that all the protocols and procedures have been fulfilled. This has been one of the most complicated collapses, with little chance of leaving survivors," said Saucedo.
    The accident has revealed an extreme lack of human and technical resources in the Andean nation to deal with disasters.
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