NAIROBI, Kenya — At least two people have been confirmed dead after a fire-damaged building collapsed at Gikomba Market on Thursday evening, trapping several people beneath the rubble and prompting an overnight search and rescue operation.
The collapse occurred in Block B of the bustling market, a section that had sustained significant structural damage during a massive fire that swept through parts of Gikomba on Sunday morning.
According to witnesses, the building gave way while a group of young men were inside dismantling the weakened structure and collecting scrap metal.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with rescue teams working under floodlights to search through heaps of collapsed concrete, twisted metal, and debris for survivors.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that it had deployed first responders to assist the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade and other emergency agencies in the rescue operation.
“The Kenya Red Cross is supporting response efforts following a building collapse at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Search and rescue operations are ongoing alongside the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade,” the humanitarian agency said in an earlier statement.
After several hours of operations, the organisation announced that the overnight search-and-retrieval exercise had been concluded.
“The overnight search and retrieval operation at Gikomba Market has been successfully concluded through the joint efforts of the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, Kenya Red Cross first responders and the National Police Service,” the agency said in an update.
The Red Cross added that it remains available to provide psychosocial support to families affected by the tragedy.
Authorities had not immediately disclosed the identities of the two victims, while it remained unclear whether additional casualties or injuries had been recorded.
The collapse comes just days after a major fire destroyed numerous stalls and damaged infrastructure at Gikomba, one of Kenya’s largest open-air markets.
Traders had expressed concerns over the safety of some structures following the blaze, with sections of the market left visibly weakened.