Khaled bin Hussein Al-Zaini, chairman of the committee in charge of old buildings at the municipality, said the doomed building had been marked by his committee for demolition and had asked its owner to report to the municipality.

However, the owner never turned up, Al-Zaini said.

“It is the duty of the Civil Defense to evacuate buildings that are on the verge of collapse,” he said.

Al-Zaini urged owners of all old buildings that are likely to collapse to report to his office with relevant documents.

“Those who rent old buildings to the public should have certificates to prove that their buildings are safe,” he said.