Nairobi Building Collapse: Fears of Trapped Victims as Rescue Efforts Underway

Nairobi, Kenya – Rescuers are digging through a massive pile of concrete and rubble after a multistorey building under construction collapsed in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Friday afternoon. Many people are feared to be trapped in the debris.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. local time (10:00 GMT) on a busy commercial street in Eastleigh, a densely populated neighborhood known for its numerous traders and residents. According to Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud, the building had more than 10 upper floors under construction. The ground floor housed an electronics shop, a butchery, and a grocery, as reported by The Associated Press.

Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi, reporting from the scene, noted that developers and authorities are facing scrutiny, as individuals were reportedly present in a building that was still under construction. Rescue operations were anticipated to continue through Friday night and into Saturday. Emergency personnel, utilizing poles stripped from trees and excavators, worked to move concrete reinforced with steel, as heavy machinery faced delays in arrival.

Mohamud confirmed that one injured woman had been rescued and transported to a hospital. However, another individual who had been calling for help had since gone silent. The police chief also issued a warning about the potential for a secondary collapse, as the damaged building was leaning precariously on its neighbor.

Local media reported instances of looting immediately following the collapse, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse crowds.

Joseph Kaula, a plasterer who was working on the fifth floor, told AP that he was among the last to exit the structure before its collapse. "The whole area was filled with dust," he recounted.

Relatives of those believed to be trapped have shared that some individuals managed to call for help shortly after the collapse, but their phones later became unreachable. A tent has been established as a center for reporting missing relatives.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja stated, "Our concern is to save lives." He informed reporters that while the building had received approval for construction, it lacked a certificate of occupation, making the operation of ground-floor businesses illegal. "This has potentially cost lives," Sakaja commented at the site, suggesting that one or two fatalities were possible and that further details would emerge over time.

A report from AFP news agency highlighted that Kenya’s National Building Inspectorate found 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked necessary approvals. Governor Sakaja emphasized the need for stronger enforcement powers for county governments, describing current lenient penalties as inadequate.

Police have announced that investigations will be conducted, and any individuals found to be negligent will face legal consequences.