Warden Messages

Implosion of Four Season Hotel Structure in Maputo

29 March 2007

The U.S. Embassy is sending this Warden message to inform the American community about the scheduled demolition of the Four Seasons Hotel structure located on the marginal near the Polana Casino.

According to the information currently available, the controlled implosion is scheduled to take place at or around 7:00 am on Saturday March 31, 2007.

The Embassy advises Americans to please follow the directions of the Mozambican authorities controlling the demolition.  This includes staying far enough away from the site to not get in the way of the authorities or endangering yourself from potential dust clouds or falling debris.  

1. The implosion will take place at or around 7:00 am on March 31, 2007 and will be carried out by a U.S.-based company called Controlled Demolition Incorporated (CDI).  

2. An exclusion area surrounding the site will be closed to traffic for approximately one hour.  (Please see attached Portuguese-language handout that contains useful maps showing the exclusion zones.)

3. The Police and Armed Forces will maintain security, and there will be emergency health service teams, firefighters and municipal authorities in the area to supervise traffic flow and control public access.

4. Residents nearby wishing to leave or go through the area may do so up to 45 minutes before the scheduled time of the implosion.  Pets should be closed inside residences or be taken with the owners.  All windows should be closed, and air conditioners, exhaust and other ventilation systems should be off to eliminate the potential spread of dust.

5. The implosion will be preceded by warning signals:

  two signals of five second duration five minutes before the implosion;
  one signal of five second duration one minute before;
  three signals of one second duration 15 seconds before the implosion; and
  one signal lasting ten seconds immediately after the operation.

6. When the explosives are detonated, the building is expected to lean forward (eastward – toward the coastline) slightly and then collapse.

7. The implosion will take approximately 15 seconds, and will generate a dust cloud that is expected to clear within 20 minutes.  No damage to surrounding buildings is expected and the noise will be similar to a thunderstorm.

8. Any sensitive individuals, namely newborns, elderly, asthma sufferers, people with immunodeficiency and chemotherapy patients should stay clear of the area.

9. After the implosion, water will be sprayed over the area to help dissipate the dust and the streets will be cleaned before reopening to traffic.

10.  General Information about implosions:  An implosion is a demolition technique that reduces to a minimum any dust, noise or vibrations.  It also accomplishes safely in seconds or minutes the bringing down of a large building that would take months to demolish using traditional demolition methods (such as a wrecking ball or demolition crews).  Such an implosion is done by placing just enough explosives in strategic locations throughout the building that, when detonated, will weaken the structure in a way that will make the building fall entirely to the ground in a certain way.  This is done best by very specialized companies such as CDI.  (Check http://www.controlled-demolition.com/ for more information regarding the art of demolition.)

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Embassy if you have any questions:
 
The U.S. Embassy is located at 193 Avenida Kenneth Kaunda, Maputo
Telephone (258) 21 492797; (258) 491659; (258) 21 490167; (258) 21 491215
Fax (258) 21 490448
Web site:  http://Mozambique.USEmbassy.gov
E-mail: ConsularMaputo@state.gov
 
The Consular section is open Monday to Thursday 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (closed 12:00 to 1:00 pm) and Fridays 7:30 am to 11:00 am.  Because visa interviews are normally scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday mornings it is advised to make non-emergency visits to the Consular section at other times.