KIGALI, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and 36 more injured Friday when a maize dryer collapsed on them in Gasabo district on the outskirts of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, a local official said.
"The accident occurred at around 8:30 a.m. The dryer collapsed under the heavy weight of maize cobs," Desire Nsabimana, executive secretary of the Rusororo sector, where the tragedy happened, told reporters.
"The dryer collapsed while the victims were inside checking on their grains," he said, adding that the injured were rushed to nearby Masaka hospital.
Police said investigations were underway to establish the circumstances under which the incident happened.
Nsabimana said the dryer had been constructed using poles and covered with iron sheets.
The dryer belongs to farmers of a cooperative of about 76 people.
In a statement issued by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, the government condoled the families and promised to provide support to the bereaved families as well as the injured.
"Those injured were evacuated to medical facilities and are being attended to by emergency health personnel. Measures to ensure the safety of built structures will be reinforced to avoid such incidents in the future," read the statement. ■