In brief
A multi‑storey building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh district collapsed in the afternoon, releasing a plume of dust across surrounding streets. The structure was still under construction, and emergency crews have confirmed that 66 of 67 workers on site escaped unharmed while seven people are missing, believed to be trapped in businesses on the ground floor. Rescue operations are hampered by piles of concrete and concerns that digging could choke air supplies, so heavy machinery has been halted. Kenyan officials are scrutinising permits and inspections, raising alarm over construction standards in the capital.
A Nairobi building collapse has left seven people missing, as rescue teams battle rubble to locate potential survivors.
The 16‑to‑18 storey block in Eastleigh went down in the afternoon, its lower floor giving way before the rest of the structure crumbled, throwing dust and debris over surrounding streets.
The structure was still under construction when it fell, with scaffolding visible around its perimeter. While 66 of the 67 workers on site escaped unharmed, officials say seven were lost, likely trapped in shops that had opened on the ground floor.
Emergency crews navigated through stacks of concrete to reach those believed to be beneath the wreckage, halting heavy diggers over concerns that further excavation could cut off air supply.
Kenya’s National Construction Authority said it has identified the developer, architect and structural engineer behind the building, but has not confirmed whether the site was inspected prior to the collapse.
Nairobi Governor Sakuja Johnson criticised the lack of permits, urging the national government to empower local authorities to penalise developers who sidestep approved plans and safety standards.
Incidents of building collapses are not uncommon in Nairobi, where sub‑standard construction and planning shortcomings frequently contribute to such tragedies.
