Salman Al-Dhubaih and Khalid Al-Adl
BURAIDAH — A factory building collapsed resulting in the death of four workers. Qassim Emir Faisal Bin Mishal has ordered the municipality to set up an investigative committee to look into the tragic collapse, Qassim Civil Defense spokesman Col. Ibrahim Abalkhail said.
“The building belonged to a refreshment factory east of Buraidah and had an area of 2,390 sq. meters. The building was under construction when it collapsed while the workers were pouring cement over its blocks. The Civil Defense spent 20 hours scourging for victims in the ruins,” said Abalkhail. He said three workers suffered severe injuries.
“Our teams managed to haul out the three severely injured workers buried underneath the ruins. Unfortunately, four workers died and their bodies were extricated after much efforts, said Abalkhail.
“The municipality has formed an investigated committee and discovered the building was being built inside the factory without any license. The owner of the factory has committed a violation and has not followed health and safety regulations which resulted in the tragic incident,” said Abalkhail.
He added the incident led to a protest from citizens in Al-Sali District where the factory was located. They want the relocation of the factory from residential area.
“The factory building was 30 years old and the citizens of the neighborhood had been demanding for the factory to be relocated. They complained that the factory often had lorries and trucks going in and out of it obstructing roads of the neighborhood,” said Abalkhail.
He added the investigative committee is still probing various aspects of the incident.
