NAIROBI, Kenya — An injured woman has been rescued and taken to hospital after a building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, as emergency teams continue searching for people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The woman’s rescue was reported by the Associated Press, citing Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud, as the operation entered a critical phase following Friday afternoon’s collapse along 9th Street.
The 18-storey building, located along Yusuf Haji Avenue near Day to Day Supermarket, collapsed at around 1pm on October 23, sending debris onto the surrounding area and bringing business to a standstill in the busy commercial neighbourhood.
The incident raised fears that construction workers, people using businesses on the building’s lower floors and passersby could have been caught beneath the debris.
A construction worker who had been on the fifth floor reportedly escaped shortly before the structure came down. He expressed concern that some of his colleagues could still be trapped in the basement, according to our reporter at the scene.
The number of people still missing or trapped, however, had not been conclusively established in the reports available by Friday evening.
Rescue operation faces major challenges
Emergency responders and police were deployed to the scene as efforts to reach possible survivors continued.
However, the operation was complicated by the initial shortage of heavy machinery and concerns that the collapsed structure, which reportedly rested against a neighbouring building, could collapse further and endanger rescuers.
The rescuers initially relied on improvised tools before an excavator was used to help remove debris and reach areas where people might be trapped.
The difficulties have heightened concerns about the urgency of locating survivors while ensuring that rescue workers are not exposed to additional structural risks.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed earlier that its Nairobi response team had been dispatched to the scene to support emergency operations.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and regional police commander Issa Mohamud were also reported to be at the site as authorities coordinated the response.
Police fire tear gas as crowds gather
The rescue operation was also disrupted by large crowds that gathered around the collapsed building, with police saying onlookers had blocked roads and restricted access for emergency vehicles.
Officers fired tear gas to disperse people and clear access routes for rescue teams.
The incident drew residents, traders and passersby to the scene, while nearby businesses were disrupted and traffic congestion spread across roads serving Eastleigh.
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The Associated Press also reported concerns about looting around the site, adding to the difficulties facing authorities as they attempted to secure the area and continue rescue work.
Emergency teams have urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow responders to work safely.
Building safety under scrutiny
The collapse is likely to intensify questions about construction oversight and building safety in Nairobi, particularly where commercial or residential premises are occupied while construction continues.
The building’s exact height has been reported inconsistently by different media outlets. Reuters described it as a 12-storey structure, while other local reports gave higher estimates. The precise height should therefore be confirmed by authorities.
Authorities had not established the cause of the collapse in the reports available by Friday evening.
Questions also remain about the building’s approvals, compliance with construction standards and whether any occupants were inside when the structure gave way.
The immediate priority remains locating anyone who may still be trapped, treating the injured and securing the site.
The final number of casualties and the circumstances that led to the collapse will depend on further information from emergency responders and investigators.
