By Salma El-Sakka
Rescue operations in Nairobi have reached their third day following the collapse of an 18-story building on a busy commercial street. So far, four people have been pulled alive from the debris, though many others remain missing.
Search Operations Continue Amid Rising Missing Persons Count
Rescuers spent Sunday searching through concrete and steel wreckage to find survivors. Two additional people were rescued alive on Sunday, bringing the total number of survivors to four. Among those rescued was tailor Victor Onyango, who was pulled from the rubble on Saturday. Onyango reported seeing light through the debris, which signaled the arrival of rescuers, and he was able to direct teams to shop owner Zaynaba Mohammed, who was also rescued and subsequently discharged from the hospital.
While the interior minister initially reported seven people trapped, the Kenya Red Cross updated the figures on Sunday, stating that reports of missing persons have risen to 47. Families of the missing gathered throughout the day, with many expressing growing despair. Peter Barasa, a relative of one of the trapped individuals, noted that the lack of food and water for three days has significantly diminished hopes of finding survivors alive.
Investigation into Illegal Construction and Safety Violations
The collapsed structure was reportedly unauthorized, lacking both construction approval and a certificate of occupancy for the shops located in the basement and ground floors. These lower levels were reportedly being used illegally. The owner of the building is deceased, and the property was under a joint ownership agreement.
Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has called for more rigorous enforcement of building regulations, criticizing current fines as insufficient to deter developers who compromise public safety. Authorities have not yet confirmed if any arrests have been made in connection with the structural failure.
