Public prosecutors investigate fatal UAE mosque ceiling collapse

Committee is assigned to investigate whether criminal charges should be brought over the collapse of mosque ceiling in the Western Region that killed a labourer and injured 17.

A committee made up of three experts from the judicial department has been tasked with investigating and examining the site in Madinat Zayed where the ceiling of the mosque collapsed, killing one Asian worker.Courtesy Security MediaShow less

ABU DHABI // Public prosecutors are investigating whether criminal charges should be brought over the collapse of a mosque ceiling in the Western Region that killed one labourer and injured 17.

A committee made up of three experts from the judicial department has been tasked with investigating and examining the site in Madinat Zayed to determine the causes of the collapse and decide whether charges are appropriate.

In particular they will be investigating whether the iron girders in the ceiling were up to construction industry standards.

The ceiling of the female prayer section of the under-construction mosque collapsed on Saturday evening while workers were applying new concrete to it.

Prosecutors said the construction company switched contractors shortly before the incident.

The collapse killed one man, an Asian, and injured 17 others - 16 Asians and one Arab. Survivors were treated at Madinat Zayed Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries that included fractures, concussion and cuts.

When completed the mosque will be the largest in the New Shabia area of Madinat Zayed, with a capacity of 40,000 worshippers, and will replace the smaller mosques seen as insufficient for the more than 100 homes in the area.