Seven Missing After Multi-Storey Building Collapses in Nairobi as Rescue Teams Race Against Time

NAIROBI — Emergency teams continued searching through the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building in Nairobi's Eastleigh district on Saturday, October 24, following a major structural collapse the previous afternoon.

The unfinished building came down at approximately 1 p.m. on Friday along 9th Street near First Avenue and Yusuf Haji Avenue, close to the Day to Day Supermarket.

The collapse sent a huge cloud of dust across the densely populated commercial area, drawing crowds of residents, traders and people searching for relatives.

Police, firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the site as concerns grew that people could be trapped beneath the concrete debris.

Seven People Reported Missing After Collapse

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that 67 construction workers were at the site when the building collapsed.

All 67 were subsequently accounted for, with 66 escaping unharmed and one sustaining injuries.

The injured worker was reported to be in stable condition while receiving treatment.

However, seven other people believed to have been inside the building remained reported missing in the minister's latest update.

Murkomen said rescuers had established contact with some people believed to be trapped inside the rubble.

As of the Saturday morning reports reviewed, authorities had not established a confirmed death toll.

Kenya Red Cross Accounts for 26 Previously Missing People

The Kenya Red Cross said it had traced and accounted for 26 individuals who had initially been reported missing following the incident.

It also confirmed that two injured people were transported to Kenyatta National Hospital.

The Red Cross update and the Interior Ministry's figures relate to different reporting categories, and authorities have not fully explained how the lists overlap.

A tracing desk was established at the rescue site to assist families seeking information about relatives.

Members of the public were encouraged to call the emergency support hotline, 1199.

Voices Heard Beneath the Rubble

Rescuers received indications that some people remained alive inside the collapsed structure.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said emergency workers had heard voices from the wreckage and were carefully creating openings to improve ventilation.

Residents also reported receiving phone calls from family members believed to be trapped.

Some relatives said communication had become impossible after the initial calls.

The reports reinforced the urgency of the operation as emergency personnel worked to reach possible survivors without destabilising remaining concrete slabs.

Excavators and Search Dogs Deployed

The response brought together personnel from the Kenya Defence Forces, National Police Service, Nairobi City County, National Youth Service, Kenya Red Cross and other emergency agencies.

Excavators, specialised rescue tools and search dogs were deployed to locate people beneath the debris.

The operation initially faced difficulties because of limited access and a shortage of heavy equipment during the first hours.

Rescuers also had to consider the risk of further structural movement, with the collapsed building reportedly leaning against a neighbouring property.

Teams therefore proceeded cautiously while removing concrete sections and searching for accessible spaces.

Crowds Disrupt Emergency Access

The disaster took place in one of Nairobi's busiest trading districts.

Large crowds gathered around the collapse site, creating difficulties for emergency vehicles attempting to reach the rubble.

Police used tear gas in some areas to disperse people blocking access routes.

Authorities also reported attempted looting in nearby commercial premises.

Security personnel established a cordon while rescue teams continued working through the evening and into the following morning.

Eleven Shops Were Operating in the Unfinished Building

Murkomen said that 11 commercial premises on the basement and ground floors had been occupied before the collapse.

The upper floors were still under construction.

The presence of operating businesses increased concern that traders, employees and customers could have been inside when the structure fell.

Officials continued trying to determine the identities and whereabouts of people who were not part of the construction workforce.

Investigation Launched Into Cause of Collapse

The National Construction Authority announced preliminary investigations and confirmed that the site had been secured.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the building lacked an occupation certificate, even though commercial activities were already underway on its lower floors.

Investigators are examining construction approvals, professional supervision and compliance with building regulations.

Authorities have not yet identified the definitive structural cause of the collapse.

Rescue Operation Continues in Eastleigh

Emergency responders were still clearing debris on Saturday morning while police maintained security around the disaster site.

The collapse has renewed scrutiny of construction safety in Nairobi's rapidly developing commercial neighbourhoods.

For affected families, the immediate priority remains locating those still missing and ensuring that anyone trapped inside the building can be reached safely.