A five-storey residential building collapsed in Gachie, Kiambu County at 3:00 pm on Monday, August 30.
Four people are feared to be trapped under the rubble that was an incomplete project.
However, according to Kiambu County Police Commander Ali Nuno, no deaths have been reported.
Police officers and witnesses at the scene reported the structure to have been built up to the fifth floor. Labourers were busy with construction activities on the sixth floor when it suddenly collapsed and caved in.
According to a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, four workers managed to stay clear of the rubble with minor injuries. Witnesses explained that those who are trapped are painters and welders working on the building’s windows.
At the moment when tragedy struck, they happened to be on top of the building. They jumped to the ground after which they were rushed to hospital.
Kiambu Deputy County Commissioner Peter Maina confirmed that at the time of publication, nine workers had been rescued. They are recuperating in nearby medical centres.
However, four of them are in critical condition and another four remain trapped under the debris.
A witness who was interviewed by reporters from K24 Digital described the collapsed building as having been hurriedly put up. He pointed out that issues had risen when contractors were putting up the third floor. The matter was however overlooked and operations continued.
“This building was constructed too fast. It had some issues when they reached the third floor because residents here complained about it. It appeared it had no balance,” the witness recounted.
A search and rescue mission was underway while emergency service providers, personnel from the National Disaster Management Unit and National Construction Authority had been dispatched to the scene.
On Thursday afternoon, August 26 construction personnel lost their lives in Kilimani. This was after a lifting machine at the construction site fell apart and crushed them.
