A multi-story building under construction in Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighborhood collapsed on Friday, leaving two people rescued alive and five others still missing, authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The building, believed to be between 16 and 18 stories tall, was under construction when its lower floors gave way, causing the entire structure to crumble and sending a thick cloud of dust into nearby streets.
Dramatic footage captured the moment the bottom floor gave out before the rest of the building caved in. Dozens of construction workers who were on the upper floors managed to escape with minimal harm, while those still missing are believed to have been inside shops located at the base of the building.
Sixty-six of the 67 construction workers present during the collapse escaped unharmed, according to Interior Ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen, though one worker sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The two survivors rescued on Saturday have been transported to local hospitals for medical care.
Police announced on Saturday that a manhunt is underway for both the building’s owner and the contractor overseeing the project. The incident has sparked renewed concerns over construction safety standards and regulatory oversight in Kenya.
Murkomen stated on Friday that seven individuals had initially been reported missing, and rescue teams have established contact with some of those believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Emergency responders have been seen cutting through metal and concrete to reach survivors.
Visuals from the site show the building’s floors stacked atop one another in a tangled mass, as crews work around the clock to locate and extract anyone still trapped beneath the rubble.
The tragedy underscores ongoing issues related to building code enforcement and unregulated urban development in Kenya’s rapidly growing capital.
