Rescue Teams Search for Survivors After Nairobi Building Collapse
Rescue teams continued searching for survivors on Saturday, October 24, after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighbourhood, leaving people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The building came down on Friday afternoon along 9th Street in the busy commercial area, prompting an emergency response involving the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Nairobi City County Government, National Youth Service and Kenya Red Cross. Heavy machinery and specialised rescue personnel were deployed to clear debris and reach people who might still be trapped.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said seven people had been reported missing following the collapse. He confirmed that 67 construction workers were at the site when the building came down, with 66 escaping unharmed and one sustaining injuries. The injured worker was reported to be in stable condition. Eleven shops located on the ground floor and in the basement were occupied at the time, raising concerns that traders, customers or other occupants could have been affected.
The rescue operation has been complicated by the location of the collapsed structure, which is surrounded by other buildings in a densely populated area. Emergency responders have been working carefully to remove debris while trying to reach anyone who may be alive beneath the wreckage. Police also launched efforts to locate the building’s owner as investigations into the incident began.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja raised concerns about compliance with construction regulations, saying the building had received county approval but lacked an occupation certificate. Authorities have indicated that the circumstances surrounding the collapse will be investigated, with possible legal action against anyone found responsible. The cause of the collapse had not been conclusively established in the reports available at the time of publication.
The incident has renewed concerns about construction safety, regulatory oversight and the enforcement of building standards in Nairobi. As search and rescue operations continue, authorities are working to establish the whereabouts of missing people and determine the circumstances that led to the collapse.
