Rescue teams in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area are racing against time to locate people feared trapped beneath the remains of a multi-storey building that collapsed while under construction. The operation entered its second day on Saturday, with officials reporting seven missing people as emergency responders worked to reach the lower floors and establish whether anyone remained buried under the debris.
Highlights
- Seven people were reported missing following the collapse along 9th Street in Eastleigh.
- The government said all 67 construction workers at the site had been accounted for.
- Sixty-six workers escaped without injuries, while one was hospitalised in stable condition.
- Eleven shops on the building’s ground floor and basement were occupied when the structure came down.
- Multiple emergency agencies are coordinating the search as authorities promise an investigation into the incident.
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Rescue Operation Continues Into Saturday
Emergency responders remained at the scene in Eastleigh on Saturday, clearing debris from the collapsed building as efforts to locate missing people continued.
The structure came down on Friday afternoon along 9th Street, prompting an extensive search operation involving security personnel, emergency services and government agencies.
Authorities said seven people had been reported missing. Rescue teams were working to establish their whereabouts, with the operation focused on reaching sections of the building buried beneath the rubble.
The Kenya Red Cross reported on Friday night that two injured people had been taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.
Government Accounts for Construction Workers
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said all 67 workers who had been at the construction site when the building collapsed had been accounted for.
According to the CS, 66 workers escaped without sustaining injuries, while another was taken to hospital for treatment. The injured worker was reported to be in stable condition.
Murkomen visited the site on Friday evening alongside Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku as rescue efforts continued.
He said emergency teams were working to reach anyone who might still be trapped beneath the debris. Officials had also established contact with some of the people reported missing, although the search was still underway.
Occupied Shops Raise Fears Over Other Missing People
Concern has extended beyond the construction workers, as 11 shops located on the building’s ground floor and basement were occupied when the collapse occurred.
The presence of traders, customers and other possible occupants has raised questions about how many people may have been inside the building at the time of the incident.
Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud said on Saturday that responders were concentrating on removing the rubble and gaining access to the lower floors.
Reaching these sections is a key priority as emergency teams continue searching for anyone who may have been caught inside.
Multi-Agency Team Coordinates Search
The rescue operation has brought together several agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service and Kenya Red Cross.
The teams are working together to clear debris, coordinate emergency response efforts and identify people whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The government has also asked families searching for missing relatives to contact the Kenya Red Cross through its emergency number, 1199. The information is intended to help responders establish who remains unaccounted for and coordinate communication with affected families.
Murkomen said the government was providing the necessary support to help speed up the operation. Authorities were also making arrangements to offer assistance, including psychosocial support, to people affected by the disaster.
Investigation Promised as Accountability Questions Emerge
Beyond the immediate rescue effort, the government has pledged to investigate what caused the building to collapse.
Murkomen said the relevant national and county government agencies would work with professional bodies to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities are expected to establish what led to the collapse and determine whether any regulations or construction requirements were breached.
The Interior CS maintained that anyone found responsible for wrongdoing would face accountability.
For now, the immediate priority remains reaching the lower floors, locating the missing and providing assistance to those affected. The investigation is expected to address the questions surrounding the building’s collapse once the emergency response allows for a fuller examination of the site.
As rescue teams continue their search in Eastleigh, the hope remains that everyone still unaccounted for will be found, while the investigation delivers answers to those affected by the tragedy.
