Eastleigh Building Collapse: Workers Reveal Last-Minute Escape After Pillar Cracked

Construction workers who narrowly escaped the collapse of an 18-storey building under construction along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh, Nairobi, have shared accounts of how they fled the site moments before the disaster.

The surviving workers said they noticed worrying signs of structural failure shortly before the building came crashing down.

One construction worker recalled seeing a major support pillar crack as the structure began shaking violently. Realising that they could be in danger, workers rushed to escape the building.

According to their accounts, the structure collapsed into a massive heap of concrete rubble just seconds after some of them reached the ground.

The survivors estimated that approximately 70 people were at the construction site when the incident occurred. They expressed concern that some of their colleagues could still be trapped beneath the debris, including in the basement area.

The workers also described the distressing moments surrounding their escape, saying they had little time to collect their belongings. Some reportedly lost personal documents, mobile phones and other possessions as they rushed to safety.

The collapse prompted an emergency response, with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Nairobi Regional Police Commander Issa Mohamud visiting the scene as rescue operations continued.

Emergency teams, supported by heavy excavators, began clearing the rubble in an effort to locate anyone who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about construction safety, structural inspections and compliance with building regulations in Nairobi.

Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including whether the building met the required structural standards and whether any negligence contributed to the disaster.

Watch the report: https://youtu.be/XLysEQIUUek