Four football fans are feared dead after a tragic incident in Bamburi Mwisho, Mombasa County, where a makeshift video café collapsed into a 40-year-old septic tank beneath it on Sunday evening.
The accident occurred at around 6:30 PM as dozens of fans gathered at the locally known Arsy Video Café to watch an English Premier League match.
The structure, built without formal approval, had been constructed directly above the aging septic tank, which gave way under the weight of those inside.
Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Noor confirmed the incident and said emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene.
“This place, used for watching football matches, was unfortunately built on top of a septic tank. The tank caved in and collapsed,” he stated.
He added, “It is believed that up to four individuals could still be trapped inside. As the chair of the county disaster team, I have liaised with the Mombasa Governor, and rescue equipment is being mobilized to establish the exact number of casualties.”
Mombasa County Chief Officer for Disaster Management, Ibrahim Basafar, said efforts were underway to empty the septic tank to facilitate recovery efforts.
“We have already removed 80 feet of sewage, which is the capacity of the current exhauster. We’re now sourcing another private exhauster to clear the remaining 40 feet before our rescuers can safely enter the tank to search and retrieve bodies,” Basafar explained.
After the incident was reported at Kadzandani Police Station, Police officers, NGAO officials, and the Mombasa County Disaster Response Team responded swiftly to the alert. Authorities later confirmed that the collapse was caused by the excessive weight on the structurally compromised foundation.
Makeshift cafe that caved into the septic.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the café was erected illegally atop the deteriorating septic tank without any formal construction approvals or safety inspections.
Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe, who visited the site, expressed her concern:
“The video café had no legal documentation or safety clearances. These kinds of unregulated structures pose serious risks to the community. I urge residents to work closely with county authorities to avoid such heartbreaking tragedies in the future.”
The area has been cordoned off to allow ongoing rescue and recovery operations to continue without interference.
