Six Missing After Building Collapses During Demolition in Nairobi’s Shauri Moyo

Six people remain unaccounted for after a building collapsed in Blue Estate, Shauri Moyo, on Monday, prompting an urgent search and rescue operation by emergency responders.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, preliminary reports indicate that about 10 people were inside the structure when it suddenly came down.

Two occupants managed to escape moments before the collapse by jumping out of the building.

Rescue teams later pulled two more survivors from the debris and rushed them to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.

“Initial reports indicate that 10 people were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Two managed to escape by jumping out, while two others were rescued and taken to hospital for medical attention. Six people remain unaccounted for,” the Red Cross said in a statement.

Emergency responders, including volunteers from the Red Cross Action Team, have been administering first aid at the scene as search efforts intensify.

Members of the public rush a victim of Shauri Moyo to hospital after being rescued.

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said the incident occurred during an attempted demolition earlier in the day.

Authorities indicated that the structure was among buildings located along the Nairobi River riparian corridor that had been earmarked for removal under the Nairobi Rivers Commission’s river regeneration programme.

Security agencies and rescue teams have since been deployed to the site to assist with the ongoing operation.

“The Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, National Government Administrative Officers and the Kenya Red Cross have been rapidly deployed to the scene and search and rescue operations are currently underway,” the ministry said.

Simon Osumba, the Nairobi North County Commissioner, said authorities are closely monitoring the situation as rescue teams continue to comb through the rubble.

“The Office of the County Commissioner, Nairobi North, is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as rescue and assessment operations progress,” he said.

He urged members of the public to keep away from the area to allow emergency teams to carry out their work without obstruction.