A multi-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, collapsed on October 23, prompting a multi-agency rescue operation. The incident has left 20 people unaccounted for, with authorities working to establish their whereabouts. Nairobi North Regional County Commissioner Simon Osumba said some of the missing people were believed to have been working on the underground floor when the building came down. Responder teams are concentrating on underground sections of the rubble, proceeding cautiously to avoid risking their lives.
Authorities are working with a mobile service provider to track phone signals linked to people reported missing. However, some phones were no longer active or had not been used for a long time, while others might have been left behind when workers fled the building. Osumba said 11 casual workers who had been at the site were particularly difficult to trace because they had provided only one name and no contact numbers. The search has been complicated by inadequate information about some of the missing people.
The Kenya Red Cross has set up a tracing desk to assist families looking for relatives. The agency has helped verify reports of missing relatives, as authorities seek to distinguish those who may be trapped beneath the rubble from people who left the site or were elsewhere when the building collapsed. So far, 32 people have been reunited with their families, while efforts continue to establish the whereabouts of 20 who remain unaccounted for.
Initially, 52 people were reported missing following the collapse. The number of people reported missing has varied across updates as officials verify information from families and workers. On October 24, authorities were still trying to establish how many people might be trapped beneath the debris, amid differing accounts of those missing. Police have urged members of the public to remain patient as rescue and tracing efforts continue.
Responder teams are prioritising the underground sections and using available technology to establish the whereabouts of those who have not been found. Osumba said responders were proceeding cautiously to avoid putting their lives at risk while searching the affected sections. “We have been keenly monitoring so that we don't endanger the lives of our responders. We would want to urge members of the public once again to be patient with us so that we can be able to carry out our work effectively,” he said.
The incident has highlighted the challenges of tracing missing people in emergency situations. Osumba said some phones might have been left behind when workers fled the building, making it difficult to track their whereabouts. Authorities are working to overcome these challenges and establish the fate of those still missing. The Kenya Red Cross and police are working together to support the rescue efforts.
The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with authorities working to establish the cause of the building collapse. The incident has raised concerns about building safety and regulations in Nairobi. As the rescue efforts continue, authorities are urging the public to remain patient and provide any information that may assist in tracing the missing people.
Key points
- 20 people remain unaccounted for after a building collapse in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
- Authorities are using phone signals to track the whereabouts of missing people.
- The search and rescue operation is ongoing, with responders prioritising underground sections of the rubble.
