Nairobi Building Collapse Sparks Fears of Trapped Victims, Casualties

Fears of casualties emerged on Friday after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Eastleigh, a densely populated district of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

The Kenyan Red Cross confirmed the incident, saying it had sent a team to the scene following the collapse, which was captured in videos shared widely on social media.

“At around 1340 hours, a multi-storey building under construction collapsed on 9th Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi,” the organisation stated on X.

Footage circulating online showed the structure coming down in a dramatic crash, producing thick clouds of dust in the surrounding business and residential area.

Local media reports indicated that people could be trapped beneath the debris, while reports of looting also emerged. Photographs from the scene showed crowds converging on the area following the incident.

There were conflicting accounts of the building’s height, with some reports suggesting the structure could have been as tall as 18 storeys.

Eastleigh, where the collapse occurred, is a densely packed neighbourhood that serves as both a residential area and a major commercial centre. It is also widely known as a hub for Nairobi’s Somali community.

The incident comes amid a construction boom in Nairobi, where high-rise developments have been appearing across the city as Kenya’s population continues to grow.

Details about the cause of the collapse, the number of people affected and the extent of any casualties had yet to be established in the reports available.

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