Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-13 02:50:00
Three out of eight masons working on the construction of a retaining wall in Amoronakona By Pass lost their lives in a landslide. Fabrice, 23 years old, married and father of a 2-year-old baby, met a tragic death along with two of his colleagues during a landslide that occurred yesterday around 11 a.m. in Amoronakona By Pass, near the new roundabout.
He lived in Alatsinainy-Betsizaraina and joined his mason team every morning at the construction site, returning home in the evening. “He was the youngest of my children. His brother, who is in Maevatanàna, called me and said: Go see Faby because he was buried by a collapse,” said his father, Ramarojaonina, with a trembling voice. He looked sad, just like other family members of the victims.
He arrived at the scene at 2 p.m. but lost all hope of finding his son alive. After an agonizing wait of one hour and seventeen minutes, Fabrice was unearthed. His lifeless body was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Sixteen minutes later, at 3:23 p.m., another mason, aged 35, was pulled out of the pile of earth. Unfortunately, he had already passed away. He was also married and had three children, the youngest being just 2 years old. He comes from Ikianja in Ambohimangakely.
His wife was shocked upon hearing about the tragic event from a survivor. “I received his call at 11:30. I asked him if my husband had already come out, but he said no. We came here as a family around 1 p.m. Since then, I have felt completely devastated because rescuers were still digging to find my husband,” she said in tears.
The other colleague of the deceased, who was discovered first, could not be identified. He passed away at the hospital where his family retrieved him. According to the survivors, he was quickly extracted from the mound of earth thanks to a bulldozer requisitioned by the authorities. “His body was still warm. He was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away,” they recounted.
Traders stationed on the side of the road claimed they heard nothing. “The workers ran to us to alert us: come, a slope has collapsed, our colleagues are stuck underneath,” they described. At the same time, they rushed to the fenced site to do what was necessary.
Firefighters, authorities, law enforcement, and the local community worked together to extricate the workers. However, after finding the first victim, the machinery broke down. Rescuers had to continue with shovels. The operation lasted for hours.
According to Havana Philibert Tovohery, the owner of the property, he had a slight suspicion. “I was still not very sure about these works. Our technician who supervises them advised to carry them out progressively. We have a permit. The team was digging the foundation of the retaining wall when the constructed slope (15m high) collapsed”.
“I was out at the time of the incident. My wife, at home, just upstairs, was terrified when she heard the noise. In such a situation, I do not want to blame anyone. The works will be suspended,” he added in a dejected tone.
Read the original article(French) on lexpress.mg
