9 killed after under-construction mosque collapses in Somalia

Over 100 people were helping pour a concrete foundation to the mosque in Garasballey district on Friday when the structure suddenly collapsed.

At least nine people were killed and dozens were injured when an under-construction mosque collapsed in Somalia, residents said Saturday.

Over 100 people were helping pour a concrete foundation to the mosque in Garasballey district close to the capital Mogadishu on Friday when the structure suddenly collapsed, leaving several trapped under the debris.

Sheikh Mohamed Hashi, the imam of the mosque, said around 30 people were injured.

“Nine bodies were recovered under the collapsed building, some of them have had suffocated to death, others were hit by the falling concrete walls,” said witness Ali Muhidin.

“I saw several dead bodies that were discovered under the debris, they were had been working on its construction,” said Mohamed Yahye, another resident.