Africa-Press – Kenya. Four people are believed to be trapped in rubble after a five-storey building in Nairobi’s Mountain View Ward collapsed Tuesday night.
The building is located along Naivasha Road near the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
First responders from Kenya Red Cross and fire fighters from the Nairobi City county were collaborating in the rescue efforts.
Red Cross said 10 people with minor injuries were rescued and attended to at the scene by its Action Team.
Nairobi county disaster management chief officer, Bramwel Simiyu, said all families except four persons had been accounted for as at 10pm.
“The four missing persons include a nanny and two children from one household, as well as a 10-year-old girl from another residence. The father of the girl has arrived at the scene and informed the responders that the girl was home alone,” Simiyu said.
“Rescuing efforts continue and the Nairobi City County Government has mobilised specialised equipment,” he added.
Simiyu said the cause of the collapse remains unknown but detailed investigations will commence on Wednesday.
“Further updates will be provided in due course,” he added.
Photos and videos seen by the Star showed the building was leaning on one side.
A witness said people were inside their respective houses when the building collapsed.
She claimed the landlord of the building was doing expansion works and ongoing heavy rains may have compromised the structural integrity of the foundation soils leading to the collapse.
She said the first floor of the building was most affected.
Cars that were in the parking lot were damaged, she added.
“We have been asked not to get in. We heard people screaming and some people tried to leave while the people in the first floor are unaccounted for,” she said.
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