- An 18-storey building in Eastleigh collapsed in seconds, sending neighbours screaming in panic
- Video seen by TUKO.co.ke shows the structure coming downwards as a huge cloud of dust rises from the rubble
- Police lobbed teargas to disperse onlookers as emergency teams searched for people feared trapped beneath the debris
Harry Ivan Mboto is a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering general news. Mboto has five years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2024
An 18-storey building under construction in Eastleigh, Nairobi, came tumbling down in a matter of seconds, sending neighbours screaming as a massive cloud of dust engulfed the area.
Source: Facebook
Video seen by TUKO.co.ke, recorded by an eyewitness from a nearby building, captures the terrifying moment the structure collapsed on Friday, October 23.
The building, which appeared to be in the advanced stages of construction, began giving way from the base before collapsing almost vertically onto itself.
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How Eastleigh building collapsed
The supporting columns at the bottom appeared to give way, causing the floors above to come crashing down in quick succession.
Rather than toppling sideways, the towering structure folded downwards, leaving behind a huge pile of concrete debris and thick dust that spread across the surrounding area.
The sudden collapse triggered panic among neighbours, whose screams can be heard as they watched the building come down.
The impact also caused severe structural damage to an adjacent building, with sections of its walls caving in.
The incident occurred along Yusuf Haji Avenue, next to Day to Day Supermarket on 9th Street, drawing hundreds of people to the scene as emergency teams rushed to respond.
Several people, including construction workers, were feared trapped beneath the rubble as rescue efforts got underway. Nairobi City County response teams, police officers and the Kenya Red Cross were among those at the scene.
Police lob teargas as rescue efforts continue
Police officers lobbed teargas to disperse crowds that had gathered around the collapsed building, with authorities seeking to clear the area and allow emergency teams to work. Some youths were reportedly attempting to collect scrap metal from the rubble, raising concerns about possible looting.
Nairobi police boss Issa Mohamed told the Nation that emergency crews were at the scene searching for survivors. He added that more officers had been deployed to coordinate the response and support rescue operations.
Nairobi City County said it had deployed machinery to help remove debris and provide access to potential victims, adding that efforts were underway to mobilise additional resources.
The Kenya Red Cross also confirmed that its response teams were at the scene and urged members of the public to keep away from the affected area to avoid interfering with rescue operations.
“We urge the public to keep clear of the area to allow emergency teams to work safely,” the Kenya Red Cross said.
The cause of the collapse had not been established at the time of publication.
Source: TUKO.co.ke