One person was confirmed dead while four others were trapped after a four storey building collapsed in Gitaru village, Kabete, Kiambu County on Friday, May 31, evening.
The building was being demolished when it collapsed on workers, trapping them inside.
Authorities have confirmed the recovery of one body from the debris, with the victim’s identity yet to be disclosed.
Eyewitnesses at the scene captured footage showing an excavator actively engaged in the rescue operation, while a section of the building’s wall lay in ruins.
Emergency services, including rescue teams, have been dispatched to the location to save the trapped individuals, as curious onlookers gather to witness the unfolding events.
Kenya Red Cross Issues Statement
Kenya Red Cross in a statement confirmed that one person had been successfully rescued from the rubbles, but the fate of the remaining trapped individuals remained uncertain by the time of publishing this story.
Also Read: Several People Feared Trapped as Another Building Collapses in Nairobi
“One person rescued, others feared trapped after a three-storey building collapsed in Gitaru, Kiambu County.”
“Kenya Red Cross first responders, alongside a multi-agency team, are currently conducting rescue efforts to reach those suspected to be trapped,” read the statement.
Building Collapses in Kirinyaga with Workers Still Inside
Reports of buildings collapsing have been frequent in the recent past, raising concerns about the structural integrity of the buildings following the recent heavy rains and flooding.
In another recent incident in Ngurubani, Kirinyaga county, a two-storey building under construction collapsed on May 22, leaving two workers with serious injuries.
According to police reports, the collapse occurred while nine construction workers were still inside the building.
The building suddenly caved in, trapping the unsuspecting workers beneath the rubble.
Seven of the workers managed to escape unhurt, but two sustained severe injuries.
Tebere Ward MCA Peter Karinga, expressed his concerns about the incident, stating that the building owner had violated the stipulated rules of construction.
He also accused the County government’s structural engineer of negligence, suggesting that the authorities had failed to take appropriate action to prevent such incidents.
Residents also voiced their concerns, alleging that county engineers have been accepting bribes from construction sites.
Five Storey Building Collapses in Uthiru
Similarly, earlier on May 7, a building in Uthiru area in Nairobi collapsed late in the evening while some of the residents were inside the building.
Kenya Red Cross reported that the Espsom Apartments located near the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) collapsed at around 8: 30p.m.
Also Read: Building Collapses with Construction Workers Inside
However, at around 11:50pm, Nairobi County officials announced that all the residents of the collapsed building had been accounted for.
Nairobi County Chief Officer of Disaster Management, Bramwel Simiyu, said four residents who had earlier been missing had been found adding that there were no casualties.
“All 34 residents of the collapsed building in Nairobi’s Mountain View Ward have been located and are safe. There are no casualties,” read the update.
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