Several people are feared trapped after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, prompting an emergency search and rescue operation.
Emergency response teams rushed to the scene as authorities sought to establish the number of people affected by the incident.
According to preliminary reports, the building was still under construction, with its ground floor already occupied, raising concerns about the safety of people inside and around the structure when it collapsed.
Nairobi City County emergency response teams arrived at the site to assist in rescue efforts as police officers worked to control crowds that had gathered following the incident.
Witnesses reported scenes of chaos, with alleged looting and stone-throwing at ambulances briefly disrupting access to the site. Police reportedly used teargas to disperse the crowd, allowing emergency responders to proceed with rescue operations.
The office of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja confirmed that the ground floor of the collapsed building was occupied.
However, conflicting preliminary reports described the structure as either a 12-storey or an 18-storey building, with the exact number of floors yet to be independently established.
Authorities had not immediately confirmed any deaths or injuries as rescue operations continued.
The cause of the collapse also remained unclear, with further investigations expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The disaster has renewed concerns about building safety, construction standards and enforcement of regulations in Nairobi’s rapidly developing neighbourhoods.
Further updates are expected as emergency teams continue searching the rubble.
