Nairobi building collapse leaves five missing as police hunt owner and contractor
Two people were rescued alive from a collapsed 16- to 18-storey building in Nairobi's Eastleigh area; five remain missing as police hunt the owner and contractor.
The story in focus
BBC News reports a 16- to 18-storey building under construction in Nairobi's Eastleigh area collapsed on Friday. Two people were rescued alive on Saturday and five remain missing. Police launched a manhunt for the owner and contractor, and Kenya's construction authority identified the developer, architect and structural engineer.
- Two survivors were rescued on Saturday and taken to hospital; five people remain missing after Friday's collapse.
- Interior ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen said 66 of 67 construction workers escaped unharmed and one suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
- Police said a manhunt was launched for the building's owner and the contractor responsible for the site.
- The National Construction Authority identified the developer, architect and structural engineer but did not say whether the site had been inspected.
- Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson told local media the building's owners lacked the paperwork required for occupancy.
Rescue and casualties
The building, thought to have been 16 or 18 storeys, gave way on Friday afternoon while under construction, with scaffolding still wrapped around its exterior. Officials said 11 shops had already opened on the bottom floors, and those missing were believed to have been in shops at the base.
Interior ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen said 66 of the 67 construction workers in the building at the time got out unharmed; the other suffered injuries described as not life-threatening. On Friday, Murkomen said seven people had been reported missing. The two rescued on Saturday were taken to hospital, police said.
Investigation and permits
The National Police Service said it had opened an investigation into the cause and whether anyone was criminally liable, warning that anyone found responsible for negligence or violating building regulations would face the full force of the law.
The National Construction Authority said it had identified the company behind the development as well as the architect and structural engineer, but did not say whether the site had been inspected before Friday. Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson told local media the owners did not have the paperwork required for the building to be occupied. He urged the national government to give local authorities more power to penalise developers who disregard approved plans and safety standards.
Construction standards
Questions have emerged about why the building collapsed and whether it met planning regulations. BBC News reported that building collapses are not uncommon in Nairobi, with poor construction or improper planning often cited as contributing factors.
How many potential victims were reported missing immediately after the collapse, and how did that figure change?
On Friday, Interior ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen said seven people had been reported missing. By Saturday, two had been rescued alive and five remained missing, according to BBC News.
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