Miscellaneous

Citation

(2001), "Miscellaneous", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 10 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2001.07310eac.007

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

7 May 2001 – collapse of football stadium, Iran

Hundreds of people were wounded and several were killed yesterday, when an overcrowded Mottaqi football stadium, in Sari, northern Iran, collapsed during a bad-tempered match featuring one of the nation's most popular teams. Security forces closed off access to area hospitals, according to local witnesses who said hooligans went on the rampage after the catastrophe, with clashes spilling out into the streets and nearby areas. Players were trapped in the dressing rooms for at least an hour after the tragedy and the official Ima news agency cited a team official saying that one player was briefly in a coma after being pelted with a missile. The exact casualty toll could not immediately be verified, with eyewitness reports putting the number of dead at five, while one hospital said it had four patients who were left "clinically" brain-dead. Ima earlier reported several people had been killed but later cited an official saying that while 249 people were wounded, "fortunately there were no fatalities in the incident". An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people were crammed into the 15,000-capacity Mottaqi Stadium, when the north-west stand fell apart during a cup match featuring Pirouzi, which has a nationwide following. State television showed pictures of pandemonium as people scrambled to pull themselves from the wreckage, with spires of twisted metal jutting from the debris of the stand. The student Isna news agency said that the angry crowd charged the pitch after the collapse and demolished part of the stadium, breaking windows and attacking the premises before a fire broke out. Pirouzi were losing 2-0 at the half-time break to local side Shamushak, who were en route to eliminating the wildly popular Teheran club from the nationwide cup competition.

9 May 2001 – Zambia

Ground movement caused a slope in an open-pit copper mine to collapse yesterday, burying ten mine workers in sand, a mine spokeswoman said. The miners were feared dead, Anglo American spokeswoman Anne Dunn said in a statement. The accident happened yesterday afternoon at the Konkola Copper Mines in Chingola, some 185 miles north of Zambia's capital, Lusaka.

19 May 2001 – collapse of coal mine, Beihai area, Guanxi Province, China

Rescuers were working to reach 28 miners sealed in their shaft after the roof fell yesterday morning at a mine near Beihai, in the southern province of Guangxi, the Beijing Morning Post reported today. The paper quoted experts as saying the miners probably had about two days of air. Seven miners fled to safety during the cave-in, the paper said. The cause of the collapse was not known.

24 May 2001 – collapse of building, Jerusalem, Israel

A three-storey wedding hall collapsed tonight in Jerusalem, killing at least three people and injuring more than 200 others. Dozens were rushed to hospitals and dozens more remained trapped under huge concrete slabs and metal wreckage. About 700 people were dancing at a wedding at the Versailles Wedding Hall when the building collapsed, Israel radio said. Jerusalem police commander Miki Levy said the collapse was due to a "structural failure". Rescue worker Haggai Lavie said at least three bodies were removed from the wreckage, and many others were trapped in the wreckage. Israel radio reported that a convoy of ambulances was heading to Jerusalem from other parts of the country, and broadcast appeals to Jerusalem hospital employees to report to their workplaces immediately. The wedding was taking place on the top floor of the building, and the other two floors were not being used, according to radio reports. The centre of the top floor collapsed suddenly, witnesses said. The concrete structure crashed through the floors below.

24 May 2001 – A three-storey wedding hall where hundreds of people were dancing collapsed tonight, killing at least 15 and injuring more than 200 others, police said. The injured were rushed to hospitals, while dozens more remained trapped under huge concrete slabs and metal wreckage. Amid signs of life, rescuers worked feverishly to reach them. About 700 people were dancing at a reception at the Versailles Wedding Hall when the building collapsed, witnesses said. Jerusalem police commander Miki Levy said the collapse was due to a "structural failure". Levy said 247 victims had been taken to Jerusalem hospitals and that several were killed, although he did not say how many. Israeli media quoted police as saying that 15 people were killed. Levy said rescue efforts continued non-stop with a special Israeli Army rescue unit that has been sent abroad in the past to dig out earthquake victims working at the scene. Israel Radio reported that a convoy of ambulances was heading to Jerusalem from other parts of the country, and broadcast appeals to Jerusalem hospital employees to report to their workplaces immediately. The Magen David Adom emergency service appealed for blood donations. The wedding was taking place on the top floor of the building, and the other two floors were not being used, Levy said. The centre of the top floor collapsed suddenly, witnesses said. The concrete structure crashed through the floors below, leaving a three-storey hole.

27 May 2001 – collapse of roof, Andhra Pradesh, India

At least 25 workers were killed today in the south-east Indian state of Andhra Pradesh when the roof of a building they were working on collapsed, reports said. Rescue teams were working to recover as many as 50 workers feared trapped in the rubble of the building at Karepalli village in Khammam district, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported. Five bodies had been recovered and ten injured workers were receiving medical treatment, PTI said, citing official sources. The exact death toll would only be known after the rubble has been cleared, police said. The roof of the building collapsed at 19.45 when most of the workers were engaged in construction work on the third floor, PTI reported.