Nairobi, 24 October (H.S.): Rescue teams in Kenya’s capital were working to locate people feared trapped beneath the rubble of a multi-storey building that collapsed on Friday(October 23), in the busy Eastleigh neighbourhood of Nairobi.

The building, which was still under construction, collapsed at approximately 1 pm along a crowded commercial street frequented by traders and residents. The structure reportedly had more than 10 upper floors under construction, leaving a massive heap of concrete and twisted steel after the collapse.

Nairobi Police Chief Issa Mohamud said rescue operations were being hampered by difficult site conditions and the danger of a secondary collapse. The damaged structure was leaning against a neighbouring building, raising concerns that further instability could put rescuers and nearby residents at risk.

One injured woman was rescued and taken to hospital, while authorities said another person who had been heard calling for help had subsequently fallen silent. The number of people trapped beneath the debris remained unknown.

Joseph Kaula, a plasterer who had been working on the fifth floor, said he escaped moments before the building came down. He recalled hearing screams and seeing workers rushing out while warning others that the structure was collapsing. Kaula expressed concern that some of his colleagues might have been trapped in the basement.

Rescue efforts initially faced a shortage of heavy machinery. Workers wearing protective helmets used long poles to probe the rubble for possible survivors, while an excavator began clearing concrete reinforced with steel. Additional machinery arrived later in the day as emergency teams attempted to access spaces at basement and ground-floor levels.

The ground floor had reportedly been rented out to businesses, including an electronics shop, a butchery and a grocery store, even as construction continued on the upper levels. Residents said some missing relatives had managed to telephone for help shortly after the collapse, but their phones later became unreachable. A tent was established to help families report missing people.

Police also faced difficulties securing the area after some people began looting nearby shops. Officers used tear gas to disperse them and clear access for emergency personnel.

The disaster has renewed concerns over building safety and regulatory enforcement in Nairobi, where structural collapses have repeatedly raised questions about construction standards and inspections. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building had received construction approval but lacked an occupation certificate, making the operation of shops on the ground floor unlawful.

Mohamud said an investigation would be conducted and that anyone found responsible for negligence would face legal action. The authorities had yet to establish how many people were inside the building when it collapsed or determine the precise cause of the disaster.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar