1 killed, 6 rescued as building collapses in Kenya’s capital

By on December 16, 2014

At least one person was confirmed dead and six others rescued after a five-storey building under construction collapsed early Wednesday in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.

Peter Mangiti, Principal Secretary for Planning and Devolution, said rescue operations were underway for those who are still trapped inside the rubble.

Mangiti said the deceased who was among the seven who had been rescued from the building succumbed to injuries on the way to Kenyatta National Hospital.

Six other patients were treated and later discharged. The building is reported to have collapsed at around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Deputy Nairobi Governor Jonathan Mueke said they have launched a manhunt for the owner of the building which was not cleared for occupation by the county government as it was still under construction.

“We have since been looking for the owner of the collapsed building because we have learned that he did not have the required documents to have the building occupied. He was constructing a sixth floor while people were residing in the five floors which is risking human life,” Mueke said.

He added that the county government was not aware that the building existed, saying however that appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that only quality buildings are constructed in the city.

Mueke added that preliminary findings indicated that the building could have collapsed due to the construction on the sixth floor and the deep trenches on its side that could have destabilised it.

He said the building had only one exit, which made it difficult for rescuers.

The tenants of the building are mostly low income families.

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