Nine days after the collapse of an 18-storey building in Eastleigh, Kenya, families of the 16 people still missing are holding on to hope that their loved ones may be found alive. The family of 22-year-old Aurelia Wanjiku says her phone, which had remained unreachable for eight days, suddenly became reachable on Saturday morning. This development has raised hopes that she could still be trapped beneath the rubble.
Aurelia's mother, Jude Rose Wanjiru, has been at the scene, anxiously watching as excavators scoop through the debris, hoping that the heavy machinery would finally reach her daughter. She expressed her concerns, saying her heart will only be at peace once Aurelia is found. Wanjiru traveled from her home in Kangema, Murang'a County, to be by her daughter's side during this ordeal.
On Saturday morning, Aurelia's sister attempted to call Wanjiku's phone and was surprised to find it reachable. Someone answered the call, but did not share much information, leaving the family with a glimmer of hope. The family immediately shared this information with government officials overseeing the search and rescue operation, who are working to trace the number and establish its location.
The search and rescue team, working to clear the debris and reach those believed to be trapped, says debris removal is now 90 per cent complete, with the remaining 10 per cent forming the focus of ongoing operations. The team believes the 16 people still missing could be trapped in one corner of the collapsed building. Despite the challenges, rescuers remain hopeful of finding survivors.
Other families gathered at the scene have expressed concern over what they describe as delays in the search and rescue operation. They have appealed to the teams involved to expedite the exercise and find their loved ones. Some victims, like Robai Windo, had been informed by Chinese experts that they had detected the presence of people, but were yet to be rescued.
Junior Richard, another victim, has vowed not to return home until he finds out what happened to his brother, who was trapped in the building. His sentiments are shared by many families who are anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. The search and rescue operation is expected to continue, with rescuers expressing optimism that it could be completed by Sunday.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many Kenyans sharing their thoughts and offering support to the affected families. The government has assured the public that all necessary resources are being deployed to support the search and rescue operation. As the operation nears its final stages, hopes remain high that survivors will be found.
Key points
- The family of missing woman Aurelia Wanjiku says her phone became reachable nine days after the Eastleigh building collapse, raising hopes that she may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
- The search and rescue team says debris removal is now 90 per cent complete, with the remaining 10 per cent forming the focus of ongoing operations.
- Families of the missing victims are expressing concern over delays in the search and rescue operation and are appealing for it to be expedited.
