Eighteen people were killed when a building collapsed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city, police said today.

Police commissioner Meshak Saddik said poor equipment had hampered rescue efforts and there was little hope of pulling any more survivors from the debris.

He said more than 60 people may be trapped under the rubble.

Officials said the building was about to be completed and did not have tenants.

Most of the people caught up in the collapse of the 12-storey building were labourers as well as those passing by or loitering nearby.

Mr Saddik said three engineers who were working on the building were being questioned.

In recent years building collapses have become frequent in East African countries as some property developers bypass regulations to cut costs.

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