Fire mishaps in Bahrain : Action urged against rogue landlords

Manama : New tougher  regulations are required to tackle rogue landlords who fail to adhere to the building safety regulations here, warned a top cop yesterday, citing the recent fire accident in Buri.
According to Civil Defence Deputy Director General Col Ali Mohamed Saad Alhooti, human negligence was the sole reason for the massive fire that ripped through an apartment complex in Buri.
“Labourers are continuing to reside in unsafe buildings,” Alhooti pointed out.
“This has to stop and there has to be some control.
“We are playing with the lives of people here. How can they live in places fit to be demolished?
“They are exposed to electricity lines, improper wiring, gas cylinders, heaters and air conditioners,” he told the Interior Ministry’s publication Al Amn.
“People are cooking and sleeping in the same area. We are sitting on a virtual powder keg that can explode any time,” he added.
Annual inspection
The Civil Defence should keep a tab on the condition of buildings on an annual basis.
“When a building owner applies for certification, the property is inspected by the Labour Ministry, the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning as well as by a team from the Civil Defence,” Alhooti said.
“So the onus is on the ministry officials to report any violations they find. We are not involved in the follow-up visits.
“The Civil Defence is concerned with the safety of the people and would never certify any unsafe premises,” he added.
He also suggested Ministries to ask Civil Defence for a clearance certificate during each inspection.