Nigatu Mamo, a spokesperson for the local authorities, said that among those killed were children aged four, 11, and 12. Mamo said that “the victims lost their lives due to lack of air.”

A residential building that was under construction in Ethiopia’s capital city collapsed during the early hours of Wednesday, claiming the lives of seven people who were sleeping in a house next door.

The incident occurred at around 05:00 local time (02:00 BST), in Addis Ketema, one of the busiest neighbourhood’s in Addis Ababa, local media reported.

Nigatu Mamo, a spokesperson for the local authorities, confirmed to BBC that among those killed were children aged four, 11, and 12. “The victims lost their lives due to lack of air,” Mamo added.

According to reports, authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause behind the collapse, as rescue efforts continue in the affected area.

It is not the first time the area has experienced an incident of this kind. In 2022, a similar tragedy struck when a building collapsed in Merkato, one of the largest open markets in Africa, claiming the lives of at least six people and leaving seven others injured.

Experts have pointed to the prevalence of poor-quality construction and weak regulatory measures as contributing factors to the collapse of buildings, underscoring the urgent need for robust oversight and enforcement to prevent future tragedies.