Several people are feared trapped in a rubble after a six story-building collapsed at Tassia, in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, early Friday morning.
According to reports, the block collapsed shortly after 8am as some of the tenants were preparing to leave their homes for work.
Those who managed to escape said that the ground floor sank and then the others followed.
The cause of the building’s collapse was not immediately established however heavy rains have been pounding Nairobi and other parts of the country in recent weeks.
Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo said that rescue operations were underway and that least 10 people had been rescued by residents who have joined in to help in efforts to rescue those trapped.
@KenyaPower_Care Hope at tasia and environs where the building collapsed, rescue vehicles couldn't pass under the entire sambaza stima connections which have hampered response time to save life.kuleni tu mshahara yenu!!
— shadrack musau (@denzelshady) December 6, 2019
The number of people trapped in the collapsed building is still unknown, however, Public Works PS Dr Gordon Kihalangwa said that the building had 46 rooms.
After eight buildings collapsed and killed 15 people in Kenya in 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered an audit of all the country’s buildings to see if they were up to code. The National Construction Authority found that 58% of buildings in Nairobi were unfit for habitation.
Several Kenyans took to Twitter to express their frustration over the slow response by the government to demolish those buildings.
A building has collapsed in Tasia. People feared trapped in the rubble of ill-fated building. What happened to demolition of poorly constructed buildings?
— Jak'Agola Dande Lach Od Nyang' Ok'bwore (@TomJMO) December 6, 2019
The Nairobi inspectorate of infrastructure must be held accountable, how do they allow such building to be constructed to completion under their watch?
— Odanga Milimu, 🇰🇪🇰🇪 (@agabus_milimu) December 6, 2019
My thoughts go out to the victims of the collapsed building in Tasia. I hope some people will take responsibility and resign.
— Dr. Purity Ngina (@puritynginaa) December 6, 2019
More to follow…..
