Several people have been trapped beneath debris after a five storey building collapsed in Gesima, Nyamira County on Tuesday, April 23, morning.
According to Masaba North Deputy Commissioner Stella Wanyella, two victims of the incident have been rescued and efforts are ongoing to rescue others who are trapped.
The two rescued individuals were rushed to Keroka hospital for urgent medical attention.
Images and videos of the scene seen by The Kenya Times, shows the residential building completely reduced to rubble as well-wishers nearby joined rescue operations to try and save the trapped individuals.
An ambulance and a fire track were also at the scene to help, while hundreds gathered alarmed by the incident.
“Several people are feared trapped in a five-storey building collapse reported at Gesima in Nyamira County. Search and rescue efforts are underway,” Kenya Red Cross indicated in a statement.
However, the humanitarian organization had not yet issued clarity on the cause of the incident by the time of publication of this article.
Also Read: Alarm Raised as Kenyan Woman in Germany Jumps from Storey Building
Kenyans React Linking the Incident to Floods
The incident occurred amidst displacement and deaths recorded across the country over continuous heavy rainfall.
Although some Kenyans have blamed the heavy rainfall for the incident, others have indicated that it is a result of incompetency by contractors a such incidences have been witnessed before in the country.
Mr Obegi on X said that “Incompetency will cost us until we realize and hammer shortcuts in our institutions. Engineers are not engineering anymore.”
While X user Jesse Jame said that “Mother nature is exposing those who took shortcuts.”
According to the Kenya Red Cross Head of Disaster Operations, Venant Ndhigila, the heavy rains have killed 35 people so far.
He explained that the deaths recorded were a result of Kenyans disregarding warnings issued by the organization.
Also, he noted that the humanitarian organization had cautioned Kenyans on several occasions against walking or driving in flooded areas, but they disregarded the efforts.
“As at now we are at 35 fatalities, and we are still receiving reports from our teams in the counties. As some of the missing bodies are found, we take the records accordingly.
“It is concerning because we can see effects that can be avoided very easily. People are disregarding all the precaution messages. We sent out 19 million SMSs and these were meant to caution them against walking through water. However, we are seeing people driving through water, walking through water and exposing themselves to dangers,” he said.
Also Read: Two Dead, Scores Trapped After Building Collapses In Ruiru
Earlier Incidences of Collapsing Storey Buildings
Earlier in December 2023, four people died after a storey building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh. Some of the victims were construction workers at the site.
The building which was meant to be a residential apartment once complete, started to tear apart with some materials falling to the ground.
However, while the building was under construction, individuals from the neighborhood complained that the workers had blocked the drainage system with some of the construction materials, but their plea fell on deaf ears,
“At least four workers succumbed to injuries after a building under construction collapsed in the Eastleigh area. The incident occurred along Muratina Road this afternoon as the workers were busy on-site, ” Kenya Red Cross reported then.
Do you want to be part of an updated community without the interruptions of unwanted messages? Click the link below and join our WhatsApp Channel!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
