A multi-story building that was under construction collapsed on Friday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, causing casualties and looting in the area.
Incident Confirmed by Local Authorities
The Nairobi governor's office has confirmed the occurrence of this incident and stated in a statement that individuals may be trapped under the rubble.
Videos shared on social media show the scene of the collapse and large clouds of dust resulting from the building's fall. The Red Cross has sent teams to the scene and wrote on social media: "At 1:40 PM, a multi-story building under construction collapsed on Ninth Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi."
Details of the Under Construction Building
Conflicting reports exist regarding the dimensions of this building. Nairobi police chief, Isa Mohammed, stated that the building was over 10 stories under construction, while other reports mentioned the number of floors to be between 12 and 18.
The governor's office, led by Johnson Sakaja, stated that only the ground floor of the building was occupied. A local resident named Abdulaziz, 25, said: "There were some businesses in the basement, and workers were busy with construction, but due to Friday prayers, many of them were at the mosque."
Videos released by Reuters show that people have gathered at the scene, and an excavator is moving debris.
Challenges in Rescue Operations
The rescue operation has faced challenges due to complexities. Police officers attempted to clear the area and provide access for rescue teams but were forced to fire tear gas at individuals who began looting from nearby shops.
Eastleigh, a densely populated residential and market area, is known as a hub for the Somali community. It is still unclear what caused the collapse of this building. Nairobi is experiencing a rapid construction boom, with tall buildings rapidly increasing throughout the city.
Recurring Issues of Building Collapses
Building collapses in Nairobi have become a recurring problem. County officials responsible for issuing building permits have been accused of failing to conduct adequate inspections to ensure compliance with construction and safety standards. According to a report from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, between 2009 and 2019, 86 buildings collapsed, and it is estimated that 200 people lost their lives.
Additionally, a separate survey of nearly 15,000 buildings by national building inspectors revealed that 4.8% of them were extremely dangerous, and 72.3% were classified as unsafe.
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