Eastleigh building collapse death toll rises to eight as rescuers reach basement

The death toll from the 18-storey building collapse in Eastleigh, Nairobi, has increased to eight, following the recovery of six more bodies on Thursday. This marks a crucial turning point in the ongoing search and rescue efforts, which have entered their concluding phase. Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba announced that four of the six newly recovered bodies were women, while the other two were men.

The latest recoveries were made from the basement of the fallen structure, as authorities urged families searching for their missing loved ones to remain patient. Five individuals remain unaccounted for, with rescuers optimistic that completion of the mission could occur by Friday. The operation, which began on October 23, 2026, when the building partially collapsed while under construction, had initially reported 11 individuals trapped.

Director of the National Disaster Management Unit, Dr Duncan Ochieng, clarified that a total of 11 people were trapped within the building. The multi-agency rescue team is working tirelessly to complete the final phase of the recovery operation, with hopes of concluding the search by Friday.