RIYADH: Four construction workers were killed on Monday when the roof of a building they were working on collapsed on site at a university campus in Saudi Arabia, civil defence authorities said.

A civil defence statement said at least four other workers were injured in the collapse, which took place on the campus of Al-Qassim University in the city of Buraydah.

The statement said some 50 workers were at the site at the time, without elaborating on their status. Local government news websites reported that air medical services, ambulances, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, civil defence authorities and security teams are taking part in the rescue operation.

The cement and steel roof that collapsed was part of a large conference centre being built.The governor of Al-Qassim province where the university is located, Prince Faisal bin Meshaal, visited the site of the collapse. Buraydah, the provincial capital, is about 360 kilometres northwest of Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.

The governor ordered the creation of a committee to investigate the incident comprised of representatives from his office, the university and the region’s civil defence authorities.

The statement did not disclose the nationalities of the dead and missing workers. Most of the kingdom’s labourers hail from South Asian countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Civil defence authorities could not be immediately reached for further comment.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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