Several feared trapped as 7-storey building collapses in Kasarani

Several people are feared dead after a seven-storey building collapsed at Seasons area in Kasarani, Nairobi, on Tuesday, November 15, 2022.

Witnesses said the building that was under construction came tumbling down at around 2:30 pm.

Most of the persons said to be trapped in the rubble are construction workers. At least five victims have reportedly been rescued from the rubble and rushed to hospital with varying injuries.

Officers from the Nairobi county emergency department are leading the rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, a section of the residents has decried the slow-paced rescue operations saying more than 10 workers are still trapped in the debris 

Some of the residents claim they have been blocked from rescuing the victims.

“There is little going on inside there. We should be allowed to join the rescue teams,” one of the residents lamented.

Another said he fears that one of his brothers, who works at the construction site, is among those trapped.

He said he had tried to reach him on phone in vain, saying the calls are not going through.

Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri is among those at the site.

The accident comes two months after another building collapsed at Kirigiti village in Kiambu county claiming three lives.

The seven-storey building that was under construction is reported to have fallen on nearby houses leading to the death of two children and a woman.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who was among the first responders, said the owner of the building had no approvals and thus the building was being put up illegally.

“It’s very wrong and unfortunate that this incident happened. I actually removed one of the babies who was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The owner of the building had no approvals,” Wamatangi said.

“I had just called a meeting with all developers but we were yet to finalize efforts to avert such incidents,” he added.

source