Rescue teams in Nairobi, Kenya, are racing to locate survivors after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in the Eastleigh district, leaving several people feared trapped beneath a massive pile of concrete and debris.
The building collapsed on Friday afternoon, October 23, along Yusuf Haji Avenue near 9th Street, in a busy commercial and residential area. The ground floor and basement were reportedly occupied when the structure came down, raising fears that traders, workers and other occupants could be buried beneath the wreckage.
The Kenya Red Cross Society, Nairobi City County emergency teams and security personnel were among those deployed to the scene to conduct search-and-rescue operations.
Heavy machinery, including excavators, was brought in to remove debris and create access to areas where survivors might be trapped. However, reports indicated that rescue workers temporarily paused some heavy digging after people believed to be trapped beneath the rubble reportedly warned that the activity was making it more difficult for them to breathe.
The warning added urgency to an already challenging operation, as rescuers faced the delicate task of removing concrete while trying to avoid further endangering anyone who might still be alive.
Kenyan media reported that one injured woman had initially been rescued. A later update from the Kenya Red Cross said two injured people had been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment, while 26 people who had earlier been reported missing had been traced and accounted for.
Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, also reported that seven people were missing in an update issued on Friday night. The number of people still unaccounted for remained subject to verification as authorities continued gathering information.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and police officials visited the scene as emergency responders worked to coordinate the operation. Authorities urged members of the public to keep away from the site to allow rescue personnel to work safely and maintain access for emergency vehicles.
The collapse has also raised questions about construction safety and regulatory enforcement in the Kenyan capital. Governor Sakaja said the building had received county approval but lacked an occupation certificate, which is required before a building can lawfully be occupied.
Police said investigations were under way to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any individuals or companies should face legal action. The precise cause of the structural failure had not been officially established.
Eastleigh is a densely populated part of Nairobi known for its busy businesses, markets and residential buildings. The collapse has prompted renewed concerns about the risks associated with construction projects in crowded urban areas, particularly where buildings are occupied while work continues.
For families waiting for news of loved ones, the immediate priority remains locating anyone still trapped and ensuring that survivors receive urgent medical attention.
The search-and-rescue operation continued as emergency teams worked through the rubble, with authorities yet to establish the full extent of the casualties.
IBN News — Fearless, Strong & Reliable
