This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
Kiambu Building Collapse: Four Trapped, Nine Rescued ¶
A five-storey residential building collapsed in Gachie, Kiambu County at 3:00 pm on Monday, August 30, trapping four workers under the rubble.
According to Kiambu County Police Commander Ali Nuno, no deaths have been reported, despite the building's collapse.
Police officers and witnesses at the scene reported the structure to have been built up to the fifth floor when it suddenly collapsed and caved in. Labourers were busy with construction activities on the sixth floor at the time of the collapse.
Four workers managed to stay clear of the rubble with minor injuries, according to a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke.
Witnesses explained that those who are trapped are painters and welders working on the building’s windows. They were on top of the building when it collapsed and jumped to the ground, where they were rushed to hospital.
At the time of publication, nine workers had been rescued and were 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, but the matter was overlooked and operations continued.
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 after a lifting machine at the construction site fell apart and crushed them.
