4 rescued on third day after Kenya building collapse as families lose hope

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Rescue operations on the third day after a building collapse in Kenya's capital have resulted in four survivors, as families wait with dwindling hope for their loved ones still trapped. The 18-story structure in Nairobi's bustling commercial district crumbled Friday, trapping construction workers and residents occupying illegally-occupied ground and basement floors. By Sunday morning, rescuers had pulled two more individuals from the debris, bringing the total number of survivors to four.

One of the rescued, tailor Victor Onyango, expressed optimism upon being freed, communicating with a shop owner, Zaynaba Mohammed, who was also trapped. Both were later treated and discharged from a hospital. Several others remain missing, with the Kenya Red Cross reporting the number of missing persons rising to 47.

The interior minister had initially stated that seven people were inside the rubble after the collapse. However, families of those trapped in the building awaited news on their loved ones, with one relative admitting to losing hope of finding his relative alive after three days without food and water. The governor of Nairobi County has called for stricter enforcement against building code violations, criticizing the current fines as insufficient punishment for developers who risk lives by constructing and renting in illegal structures.

The owner of the collapsed building was deceased, and his family was in a joint ownership agreement. It remains unclear if any arrests have been made despite authorities asserting that the building was not approved for construction and lacked a certificate of occupancy.