NAIROBI, Kenya – Rescue teams were deployed to Eastleigh on Friday after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street at the First Avenue intersection, raising fears that workers and other occupants could be trapped beneath the rubble.
The October 23 incident disrupted business along the busy commercial street, with shops closing as residents, traders and passersby gathered near the scene.
Emergency responders were working to establish whether anyone was trapped inside the structure, but the number of people potentially affected, casualties and injuries had not been confirmed at the time of publication.
Concerns Over Occupied Construction Site
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the building was still under construction when it came down, with reports suggesting it had reached its 18th floor.
There were also reports that some lower floors were occupied despite the ongoing construction, raising questions about whether people were inside when the structure collapsed. This detail had not been independently confirmed.
Residents were seen gathering around the site, while police officers maintained a presence as rescue efforts continued. Foot traffic and crowds reportedly complicated access for emergency crews attempting to reach the affected area.
Residents also brought a fire engine back to the scene to support the emergency response, according to accounts from the area.
Businesses Shut as Traffic Disrupted
The collapse brought commercial activity along the affected stretch of Eastleigh to a standstill, with traders shutting their premises as the rescue operation unfolded.
Traffic also built up on roads leading into and out of the neighbourhood, disrupting movement in one of Nairobi’s busiest commercial hubs.
The gathering of onlookers added to the pressure on responders, with access to the site emerging as a key concern during the operation.
The incident occurred on a Friday, when Muslim worshippers attend weekly prayers, adding to the movement of people in the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood.
Cause of Collapse Yet to Be Established
The circumstances that led to the collapse remained unclear, with no immediate official explanation available.
The Nairobi City County Government, National Police Service, National Disaster Management Unit and National Construction Authority had not issued statements on the incident by the time of publication, according to the information available.
It was also unclear whether the developer had obtained the necessary approvals or whether the building had complied with applicable construction and safety requirements.
Those questions are likely to form part of any subsequent assessment of the incident, although no findings had been announced.
The immediate priority remained the search for anyone who may have been caught inside the building and the assessment of the affected site.
Further details on the rescue operation, the number of people affected and the possible cause of the collapse were expected as more information became available.
This is a developing story….More to come.
