Building under construction collapses in Nairobi, rescue efforts underway

A multi-story building under construction collapsed on January 2 in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, leaving an unknown number of people feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Rescue workers were digging through debris at the site in the South C area of the city, according to the Kenya Red Cross. The structure was a 16-story building that was still under construction at the time of the collapse, Al Arabiya reports.

“A multi-agency response team is on site managing the situation,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.

Authorities had not issued an immediate comment on the cause of the collapse or confirmed the number of victims. Officials said the death toll was not expected to be high, though search and rescue operations were continuing.

Building collapses are a recurring problem in Nairobi, where rapid urban growth and high demand for housing have led some developers to bypass regulations or violate construction codes.

In 2015, eight buildings collapsed across Kenya, killing at least 15 people. Following those incidents, the presidency ordered a nationwide audit of buildings to assess compliance with safety standards. The National Construction Authority later found that 58 percent of buildings in Nairobi were unfit for human habitation.

By Sabina Mammadli