Several people are feared trapped beneath the rubble after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed along 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday, October 23.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene following the incident, which occurred at around 1pm, as concerns mounted over the safety of construction workers and pedestrians in the busy neighbourhood.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed said authorities were still gathering information about the incident as rescue teams worked to reach anyone who might have been trapped.
“The house was about 10 floors but we are waiting for more as the responders rush to save lives,” Mohamed said.
He added that additional police officers had been deployed to help coordinate emergency service providers and support the rescue operation.
The collapse attracted a large crowd, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse people who had gathered around the scene. Authorities said the crowd had blocked roads, making it difficult for emergency teams to access the affected area.
The incident raised fears that people working inside the building and pedestrians passing nearby could have been caught in the collapse. Eastleigh is a busy commercial area, with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic throughout the day.
Rescue efforts were ongoing as authorities sought to establish the number of people who may have been affected.
Further details, including the number of casualties and the cause of the collapse, were not immediately available.
