Daily Lessons from Life 28 January 2012 - Death toll from Brazil's building collapse reaches 17

"Death toll from Brazil's building collapse reaches 17 - AFP Jan 28, 2012

RIO DE JANEIRO - The death toll from Brazil's building collapse reached 17 on Saturday after rescue workers found two more bodies under the rubble.

Authorities said that eight of the dead have already been identified by family members.

The number of missing now stood at 22. Rescue team had originally put the number at 26, but later adjusted it downward.

The three office buildings - of 20, 10, and four stories - collapsed late Wednesday near Rio's municipal theater on the city's Cinelandia square, a historic district bustling by day but nearly deserted at night.

Authorities said they did not expect to find more survivors."

Somehow I am NOT surprised by this collapse. Much as it was a tragedy, someone need to pay for this. A 20, 10 and 4 stories building CANNOT just collapse like a deck of cards killing innocent occupants.

Lessons for me are:

1. WHY is that construction companies and the industry CANNOT shake off the shaddy, cheating on building materials, careless (or corrupt) application of quality, etc. This type of tragedy has happened in Taiwan, China, Malaysia, etc. A cure? or just plain weak and corrupt practioners in the industry or the 'culture' of the whole industry?;

2. when such tragedy happened, someone has to pay for it. It is important to carry out the investigation without fear or favor so that the culprits are brought to justice for 'killing' innocent people. And then begin to change the 'culture' if it was the culture that stink!!;

3. one of the other forces for change is the victims, especially the 'fed-up' victims. Those who were on the receiving ends of things. Where they can only accept whatever had been dished out to them - good or poor quality! When they really exert their rights to safe buildings, they deserved to be compensated and given guarantee that ALL involved in the building industry be more accountatable. At least if some of them know that they will be charged for murder when occupants die from collapsing buildings, they may now be more careful?

Will the Brazillian authorities make sure this does not happened again? For their sake, they better!