Some 31 killed in collapse of old buildings in Aleppo
Syria, Local, 10/3/2002

At least 31 persons were killed in a collapse of several buildings in al-Kallasah ancient quarters in Aleppo, while other scores were wounded in an outcome which is expected to increase with the proceeding rescue operation.

Eye- witnesses said at 4 a.m. at dawn on Wednesday that one of the buildings in al-Kallaseh quarters collapsed and resulted in the collapse of other group of adjoining buildings.

The witnesses said that 8 buildings, each of three floors and completely populated, collapsed one by one, and that search and rescue operations started immediately, noting that this area has been continuously vulnerable to such a danger because of the nature of the soil.

According to the people of the area, these buildings were built illegally and on a fragile soil and that similar building collapse took place previously, and that the citizens knew of the serious situation of the building but they ignored it because "they are poor and can not afford for new houses."

According to witnesses, the citizens built their houses on caves which extent into the castle of Aleppo.

According to SANA, the governor of Aleppo Osama Ade who is supervising the rescue operations said that the "reason for the collapse goes back to the existence of old caves under the houses which are built on al-Soudel hill in al-Kallaseh quarters and this resulted in soil movement under these houses."

Arrived at the site of the collapse were the Syrian deputy premier for services, Naji al-Otari, the minister of the interior, Ali Hammoud, the minister of local administration, Hilal al-Atrash, who "supervised in the field the process of the rescue operation and lifting the remains. SANA said that a meeting was held at the government's office "where the participants were briefed on the reasons of the collapse, its conditions and the immediate measures taken to deal with the consequences of the collapse and ensuring the needs for medical treatment."

Witnesses in the region expected that number of persons under the remains to be 50, and more than 15 families to have been killed altogether. This will increase the number of victims into more than 100.

Previous Stories:
  Sultan of Brunei tour Damascus old markets   (9/18/2002)
  Muhammad Atta's visit to Syria   (9/4/2002)
  Al-Assad reviews local developments in Aleppo   (8/22/2002)

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