NAIROBI, Kenya — Rescue teams are working through the night following the collapse of a multi-storey building in South C, Nairobi, as authorities cordoned off the area and intensified efforts to search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency responders drawn from the National Disaster Management Unit, Nairobi City County, the National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross remained at the scene late into the night, using heavy equipment and manual tools to navigate the debris.
Officials confirmed that an adjacent building was placed under inspection after engineers identified signs of potential structural failure, raising safety concerns for both rescue personnel and nearby residents.
As a precaution, access to the area was restricted while structural assessments continued, with residents urged to cooperate with authorities for their own safety.
“The rescue operation is ongoing, and safety remains our top priority,” an official involved in the operation said.
The incident has once again raised concerns over building safety standards, enforcement of construction regulations, and urban planning oversight in Nairobi, particularly in high-density residential areas.
South C Building Collapse Update:Search and rescue operations continue into the night.A building adjacent to the scene is under inspection after showing signs of potential collapse.
Authorities say rescue and recovery operations will continue as investigations into the cause of the collapse progress.
Police confirmed that at least one pedestrian was injured during the incident and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Efforts are underway to locate missing security guards who were reportedly on duty at the construction site when the tragedy struck.
City Hall confirmed the collapsed building had been subjected to enforcement actions months before the incident due to multiple documented infractions, but construction continued despite policing and legal interventions.
The National Construction Authority (NCA) has also disclosed that the building was non-compliant with safety and construction standards, noting ongoing investigations into oversight failures and regulatory enforcement lapses.
