Two individuals have been rescued from the debris of a collapsed building in Nairobi, Kenya, as emergency personnel continue efforts to locate five others believed to be trapped.
The multi-storey structure, estimated to have been between 16 and 18 floors high, came crashing down on Friday afternoon.
Video footage captured the lower section giving way before the entire block fell, releasing thick clouds of dust across nearby streets.
Although dozens of construction workers were operating on the upper levels, most escaped without serious injuries.
However, several people believed to have been inside shops on the ground floor remain unaccounted for.
Police confirmed on Saturday that investigations had commenced, with officers searching for the developer and building contractor over their alleged involvement in the project.
The property was still being constructed when the disaster occurred, with scaffolding visible around its exterior.
Footage taken from nearby shows moments before (left) and moments after (right) the building collapsed
Authorities disclosed that 11 businesses had already commenced operations in the lower section.
Interior Ministry official Kipchumba Murkomen revealed that 66 out of the 67 workers present at the site managed to escape unharmed. The remaining worker sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
On Friday, Murkomen reported that seven individuals were missing and rescue teams had established contact with some victims buried beneath the wreckage.
The two people recovered on Saturday were subsequently transported to a hospital for medical attention, according to the police.
Photographs from Eastleigh, the affected neighbourhood in Nairobi, showed massive concrete slabs stacked over one another.
Rescue personnel were seen cutting through twisted metal while attempting to reach people suspected of being trapped below.
The disaster has renewed public scrutiny of building safety requirements, construction practices and enforcement of planning laws in Kenya.
The National Construction Authority announced that it had identified the firm undertaking the development, alongside the architect and structural engineer involved.
However, the agency did not clarify whether an inspection had been conducted before the incident.
Meanwhile, the National Police Service has opened an inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster and establish whether any individuals should face criminal charges.
Authorities cautioned that anyone found guilty of negligence or breaching construction requirements would face the full consequences of the law.
Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson told local media that the developers lacked the necessary documentation authorising occupation of the premises.
He also called on the national administration to strengthen local authorities’ enforcement powers, enabling them to sanction developers who disregard approved designs and established safety requirements.
Building disasters have occurred repeatedly in Nairobi, with substandard workmanship and failures to comply with approved construction plans frequently identified as possible contributing factors.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong