Oman: Collapse of House of Wonders in Zanzibar to be investigated
Building was undergoing restoration funded by Government of Oman
Muscat: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism released a statement on the partial collapse of Beit Al Ajaib, the House of Wonders located at the world heritage site of Stone Town in Zanzibar.
The building was undergoing restoration funded by the Government of Oman. The imposing structure was constructed in 1883 and is the largest and tallest building in Zanzibar.
One of the six palaces built by Barghash bin Said, the second Sultan of Zanzibar, The House of Wonders contained the Museum of History and Culture of Zanzibar and the Swahili Coast.
Many people in Zanzibar who woke up on Christmas Day with the news of the partial collapse of Beit Al Ajaib, took to Twitter to express their anguish at what happened to the building. The House of Wonders was named such because it was the first building in Zanzibar to have electricity, and also the first building in East Africa to have an elevator.
Partial collapse
Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism noted that it is following up on the partial collapse of the House of Wonders.
As the funding body for the comprehensive restoration, maintenance and rehabilitation of the building, the Ministry hoped that a team will be formed from all concerned parties to find out the causes and determine the urgent and necessary measures to preserve and protect the building. The Tweet from the Ministry also added that the necessary strengthening process before comprehensive restoration was carried out in the preliminary stage.
The Sultanate of Oman’s embassy in Tanzania confirmed that it is closely following up on the repercussions of the accident and coordinating with the responsible authorities on ground.