Kaolack building collapse kills one and injures three

A building used for Quranic instruction (daara) partially collapsed in the Tabangoy district of Kaolack during the night of October 3 to October 4, 2026. The structure, described as being in an advanced state of decay, collapsed around 11:00 PM near the Oustaz Dièye mosque.

The incident resulted in one fatality and three minor injuries. The deceased has been identified as the Quranic teacher, Serigne Sidy Talla, who was recovered from the rubble after an extensive search operation. The three injured individuals, members of the teacher's family, were treated and evacuated to the El Hadji Ibrahima Niass regional hospital in Kaolack.

Emergency response efforts involved 43 firefighters and 11 military engineers, utilizing specialized equipment including ambulances and a rescue vehicle dispatched from Dakar. Lieutenant-Colonel Erasme Sambou, commander of the GIS No. 3, noted the frequency of such incidents in Kaolack and called for authorities to take measures against buildings at risk of collapse. Local gendarmerie have opened an investigation to determine the exact causes of the collapse.