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Unknown Number Feared Trapped After Building Collapse in Nairobi

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POLITIS TEAM

The structure of more than ten floors came down in Eastleigh, a busy commercial district of the Kenyan capital.

Rescuers in Kenya are racing against time after a building under construction collapsed in Nairobi on Friday, amid fears that people are trapped beneath the rubble. According to the Associated Press, the building came down in Eastleigh, one of the city’s busiest commercial districts, home to thousands of residents and traders.

Collapse in a busy commercial district

The building collapsed at around 1pm local time (1pm Cyprus time). The collapse left a huge mass of concrete, with the floors pancaked one on top of the other.

Nairobi police commander Issa Mohamud said the building had more than ten floors under construction. Rescue operations faced difficulties, as police used tear gas to disperse people who tried to loot neighbouring shops and to secure access for rescue teams.

Accounts from the scene

A worker who was in the building at the time said he escaped seconds before it collapsed. Joseph Kaula, who was working on the fifth floor, said he heard panicked shouting and saw colleagues running towards the exit, warning that the building was coming down. He said he believes some workers may be trapped in the basement.

The rescue operation

According to the authorities, an injured woman was pulled out and taken to hospital. There were reports of another person calling for help from beneath the rubble before contact was lost.

Rescuers are also concerned about the possibility of a further collapse, as the building has tilted onto a neighbouring structure.

Search operations continued for hours with limited equipment. Rescuers initially used improvised tools to search the debris, and excavators were later brought in to remove large blocks of concrete and metal.

The search is focused on possible survival spaces in the basement and ground floor, where electronics shops, a butcher’s and a grocery store were operating, even though construction work on the upper floors had not been completed.

Families wait for news

Local residents said relatives who were possibly inside the building had initially been able to call for help, but their mobile phones later became unreachable. A dedicated area has been set up at the site where relatives can report missing people.

Building permits and enforcement

According to the Associated Press, building collapses are a recurring problem in Nairobi, and the authorities are often criticised for inadequate inspections of compliance with safety regulations and building standards.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building had been granted a construction permit but did not have an occupancy certificate, which made the operation of shops on its ground floor illegal. He also argued that local authorities need stronger enforcement powers, as the current penalties for breaching regulations are not a deterrent.

Investigation announced

The authorities have announced an investigation into the cause of the collapse and any liability arising from the incident, according to the Associated Press.

This is a developing story.

With information from Associated Press

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