Five dead, several trapped as Six Storey Building collapses in Nairobi

NAIROBI, Kenya - Five people have been confirmed dead after a six-storey residential building collapsed in Tassia, a suburb in Embakasi East within Kenya's capital Nairobi.

Several others are feared trapped within the condemned building, with a multi-agency team carrying search and rescue operations.

Heavy rains have rocked the city in recent weeks, with the poorly maintained Eastlands suburbs of Nairobi fighting the realities of 'wanting infrastructure'.

Nairobi Regional Police Commander Philip Ndolo said: "We have only managed to rescue six but there is the hope we shall pull more out of rubbles."

Ndolo, who is coordinating rescue mission, added: "We shall pitch a tent here until we pull out as many as we can. It's devastating."

The Nairobi enforcement team, Kenya Defense Forces, police and Red Cross are some of the teams on the scene conducting the rescue exercise.

At 2 pm local time, Red Cross tweeted:" Tassia Collapsed Building Update: 10 people rescued so far. Search and rescue operations continue."

Joseph Mumba, an eyewitness, told Garowe Online that "many are still trapped within the building. We only hope that they will be rescued."

The building, he added, started showing signs of cracks on Friday early morning before collapsing at around 8 am local time.

All the six floors, authorities said, were occupied by people. Tenants in the region as mainly low-income earners who pocket less than $3 on a good day.

Such calamities are synonymous within Nairobi, East Africa's regional Economic hub, with already dozens succumbing to such tragedies.

In August, seven pupils from Talent Academy died after their classes collapsed, forcing Governor Mike Sonko to suspend 16 Nairobi County officials from the Planning department.

While suspending them, Sonko said, “As I have stated countless times before, my administration shall not condone or tolerate any form of corruption, incompetence or lethargy that may jeopardize the lives of, or negatively affect service delivery to, Nairobi residents in any way whatsoever."

The outspoken county boss, who is usually seen coordinating such rescue exercises, was on Friday arrested over corruption-related charges.

Last month, Kenya lost over 60 people following mudslides in West Pokot County, about 600 KM from the capital Nairobi.

Friday's tragedy could likely revive demolition programs within the country, which are ironically called for after such calamities.

Usually, most houses in the Eastlands suburbs are poorly built, with unscrupulous businessmen often bribing authorities for quick approvals.

GAROWE ONLINE