HAPPENING NOW: Tension in Nairobi as Several People Are Trapped in a Collapsed Building

Fear and confusion spread across Nairobi’s Eastleigh on Friday afternoon, October 23, after an 18 storey building that was still being constructed suddenly came crashing down, raising fears that several people were trapped beneath the debris.

The incident happened along 9th Street on Yusuf Haji Avenue, near Day to Day Supermarket.Business activities were disrupted as traders, residents and pedestrians gathered around the scene to witness the aftermath of the collapse.

According to reports from the area, the building had risen to 18 floors before it suddenly gave way.

Concerns emerged that construction workers and other people could have been inside the structure when it collapsed.

The situation was made more worrying by reports that shops and rental units were already operating on the lower floors despite construction work still being underway.

The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the collapse and announced that its emergency teams were heading to the location to assist with rescue operations.

However, the number of people who might have been trapped, injured or killed remained unclear by the time of publication.

Emergency responders were expected to examine the wreckage and determine whether anyone was buried beneath the broken concrete and other materials.

The disaster also triggered serious traffic congestion on roads connecting Eastleigh to other parts of Nairobi. Vehicles moved slowly as crowds gathered near the damaged building, disrupting transport in the busy commercial neighbourhood.

The large number of spectators reportedly hindered rescue teams from accessing the site quickly. Police officers later fired tear gas to scatter the crowd and allow emergency personnel to carry out their duties.

The operation also coincided with Friday prayers, a major weekly religious gathering in the predominantly Muslim area.

Meanwhile, videos shared online showed residents appealing to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to ensure that emergency services were dispatched to the scene without delay.

Security personnel from several agencies, including the Kenya Defence Forces, regular police, the Anti Terrorism Police Unit and the Bomb Disposal Unit, later arrived to help coordinate the response.

The collapse also raised questions about whether the building had obtained the necessary permits and met construction safety standards.

By the time of publication, the Nairobi County Government, National Police Service and National Construction Authority had yet to issue official statements explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Authorities were expected to investigate the cause of the collapse as rescue operations continued and further details emerged.

ProfAmor feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com