Nairobi, Kenya – A major rescue operation was launched after a five-story building collapsed on Tuesday night in Uthiru, on the outskirts of Nairobi, initially trapping dozens under rubble.
By this morning, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that all tenants of the collapsed building had been accounted for, alleviating earlier concerns of numerous casualties.
Ten individuals sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by the aid agency. The incident drew significant public attention, with several videos circulating online showing the apartment block dramatically tilted to one side as onlookers voiced their alarm.
Bramwel Simiyu, Nairobi’s disaster management chief officer, dispelled fears regarding the safety of four residents, including a 10-year-old girl.
He confirmed to The Star news website that all 34 residents of the building had been located and were safe. “The building was sinking slowly, and all the residents were able to jump out and managed to exit the building,” Mr Simiyu explained, describing the fortunate circumstances that prevented any fatalities or serious injuries.
Despite the positive outcome, Simiyu noted that military sniffer dogs would be deployed to thoroughly check the debris for any remaining individuals potentially trapped, ensuring no one is overlooked in the aftermath.
This building collapse comes at a time when Kenya has been experiencing severe weather conditions.
Unprecedented heavy rains since March have resulted in 238 fatalities and displaced approximately 235,000 people across the nation, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by emergency response teams and the broader impact of extreme weather events in the region.
https://www.africanexponent.com/all-tenants-accounted-for-after-building-collapse-in-nairobi/
