El Kef - A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday at the Oum Kélil cement plant, near Tajerouine, in the El Kef Governorate, after the collapse of a building under construction.
The accident caused the death of seven persons and the injury of others, nine of whom were swiftly transferred to hospital.
As soon as he was informed of the accident, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali instructed the Equipment, Housing and Territory Development Minister to head to the scene to report on the damage wrought and extend his condolences and compassion to the families of the victims.
The Head of State also recommended to take all required measures to alleviate the impact of this painful incident and mobilise all necessary means to bring assistance to the victims.
The President of the Republic also tasked competent authorities to lend the needed assistance to families of the victims non-resident in the region and convey to them his sympathy.
For his part, the Governor of Kef immediately visited the site of the accident to monitor the intervention operations. Units of civil defence, health teams and different other concerned services mobilised all material and human means to facilitate operations of rescue and care for the injured.
An examining judge also went to the site and ordered, pending the completion of the investigation, to remand some officials of the construction site in custody.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2009
