AJMAN, 4 June 2008 — Rescuers have found the body of a fourth worker who died when the roof of a hotel under construction collapsed in Ajman early Monday morning. Police fear that nine workers have died but they still do not know the definite number as the bodies are buried under cement. It was initially thought that six laborers were missing. However, the police raised the number to nine yesterday after it was found that three more workers were missing.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. Monday when a leak happened while concrete was being poured on the ceiling of the basement. When some workers went down to examine the leak the roof collapsed, burying them in wet cement.
According to Ajman police chief, Col. Ali Abdullah Alwan, all the victims are Indian nationals.
Alwan said that either the scaffolding or general framework that held up the ground floor was not able to take the weight of the concrete and collapsed. He pointed out that the site engineer and a consultant from Seidco General Contracting, the construction company, are being questioned.
He added that after the initial investigation, the case would be transferred to the Public Prosecution. However, he did not give additional information about the investigation. The construction company refused to give any comments.
More than 30 hours after the incident, rescuers were still finding difficulties in digging out the bodies. Speaking to Arab News, a Civil Defense official was not optimistic about finding any survivors.
