THE government has formed a 19-member task force to assess the structural integrity of all buildings in the Kariakoo area following the tragic collapse of a building on Saturday, which claimed 16 lives, with nearly 90 survivors rescued from the rubble.

The move follows instructions from President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a televised message in the wake of the disaster, tasking Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa with constituting a probe team.

The premier announced the formation of the task force during a ceremony at Mnazi Mmoja grounds, where the victims of the disaster were being honoured at the national and city level before being transported for burial proceedings.

Brigadier General Hosea Ndagala, the head of the Disaster Management Department in the Prime Minister’s Office will head the team, while Melecky Mwano from the Contractors Registration Board (CRB), will serve as its secretary.

The premier said that the team’s primary role will be to assess the condition of buildings in Kariakoo and advise the government on appropriate steps, as Kariakoo is a vital marketplace, not only for Tanzania but for neighboring countries as well.

“We must ensure the safety of its buildings to protect the lives of entrepreneurs and the public," he said, underlining that findings of the task force will help guide the government in implementing new safety standards and measures for the area.

He also provided updates on the rescue effort, noting that as of mid yesterday, 86 individuals had been rescued from the rubble while 16 have been confirmed dead.

Rescue operations are being pursued until every person is accounted for, he emphasised, affirming that the rescue teams had reached underground levels of the collapsed building, where voices are still being heard.

He praised the collaborative efforts of various institutions during the rescue operation, echoing remarks by the president in a televised message from the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, directing a comprehensive inspection of multi-storey buildings in the central business district.

The inspection will focus on safety standards and ways to improve emergency preparedness in the instance of such incidents in future, she said, conveying her condolences to the families of the victims.

She declared the government’s commitment to covering treatment costs for the injured and assisting with burial arrangements, asserting that public safety was the top priority.

“Once the rescue operation concludes, we will intensify efforts to ensure the structural integrity of buildings in the zone," the message intoned.