NAIROBI, Kenya (HornPost) Kenyan authorities say rescue teams have made contact with some people believed to be alive beneath the rubble of a building that collapsed in the East leigh neighborhood of Nairobi.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said seven people remained missing as rescue operations continued at the site on Friday. Emergency teams were working to reach those trapped beneath the debris.
“Some of the people beneath the rubble who are still alive have been contacted,” Murkomen said, citing updates from national and regional rescue teams and the Kenya Red Cross.
He said rescuers were making every effort to bring the trapped people out alive. The contact had raised hopes that they could be rescued, he added.
Rescue Operations Continue
Murkomen urged families who believed their relatives were missing after the collapse to contact emergency services by calling 1199 and report the missing people.
He said authorities were prioritizing rescue efforts while investigations into the cause of the collapse continued.
The minister said the operation was dangerous because much of the collapsed structure remained unstable. He added that rescue teams needed specialized technical skills to work safely at the site.
Authorities Warn of Accountability
Murkomen said national and regional agencies would investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
He warned that engineers, construction inspectors and other professionals could face penalties if investigations found that they had approved buildings that failed to meet required safety standards.
Those found responsible would be held accountable, he said.
The minister also reported that 67 people who had been working on the building at the time of the collapse were safe. One worker was injured and taken to hospital, according to his statement.
Shops Were Open When Building Collapsed
Eleven shops on the lower floors were operating when the building came down, Murkomen said.
A witness who spoke to the BBC described panic in the area following the collapse. The incident occurred during a busy period after Friday prayers, when many people were in the neighborhood.
“It was a terrifying incident, and everyone around was shocked,” the witness said.
Omar Ahmed, coordinator of the East leigh traders’ committee, told the BBC that the building had several floors and was still under construction. He said shops on the ground floor were open and people were inside when the structure collapsed.
People who were planning to move into the building had also been visiting the site, he said.
Cause of Collapse Remains Under Investigation
The building was reportedly expected to be completed soon. Authorities have not yet established the cause of the collapse.
Investigators are expected to examine the building’s construction, compliance with safety standards and the approvals granted by the relevant authorities.
The full extent of casualties and damage remained unclear as rescue operations continued.
HornPost Staff Reporter
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