ZANZIBAR: Tanzanian police say 18 people were killed when a building collapsed Friday in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city.

Police Commissioner Meshak Saddik said Saturday poor equipment had hampered rescue efforts and that 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-story building were labourers as well as those passing by or loitering nearby. Saddik said three engineers who worked 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.