Many feared trapped under collapsed building in Kenya

A multi-story building under construction in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, collapsed on Friday afternoon, leaving many people feared trapped beneath a mass of crushed concrete. The disaster occurred around 1:00 p.m. local time in the Eastleigh neighborhood, a densely populated commercial area. The high-rise building, which had more than 10 upper floors at the time of the failure, pancaked onto itself with little room between the slabs.

Rescue workers and emergency teams were faced with a volatile scene, as crowds swarmed the area and opportunists began looting nearby businesses. The Nairobi Police Chief warned of a potential secondary collapse due to the tilted mass of the fallen building resting against an adjacent structure. One woman was rescued and hospitalized, but another person believed to be crying for help went silent.

Eyewitnesses described sudden panic among workers as the structure gave way, with one man stating he was the last to walk out before the collapse, and several colleagues potentially trapped in the basement. Desperate calls from trapped victims were received, but mobile connections went silent shortly after. Rescue efforts initially relied on crude tools, but heavy equipment arrived later in the day to clear the debris.

The National Construction Authority confirmed that the site was registered in 2025, developed by 9th Street Plaza Limited and constructed by Stromax Holdings E.A Limited. The tragedy highlights the persistent issue of building collapses in Nairobi, where rapid commercial expansion often outpaces enforcement capacity.