A building under construction has collapsed in South C, Nairobi County, triggering an early morning emergency response by multiple agencies.
In a statement, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that the incident occurred in the South C Shopping Centre area during the early hours of the morning. The organisation said a multi-agency emergency response team was immediately deployed and is actively managing the situation.
“The area has been cordoned off as the National Disaster Management Unit, Nairobi City County, the National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross continue search and rescue operations,” the Red Cross said in a post on X.
Eyewitnesses reported thick clouds of dust and scattered debris at the scene, forcing nearby residents and business owners to flee the area for safety.
Officers who responded to the incident said security guards who were on duty at the site had not yet been accounted for, with efforts ongoing to establish their whereabouts.
The collapsed structure was located next to other buildings that are also under construction, raising safety concerns as rescue teams continue operations.
Nairobi Police Commander George Seda confirmed that multi-agency teams were deployed to the site to search for possible casualties and assist those trapped under the rubble.
One security guard in the area told police that he heard a loud bang followed by a cloud of dust, only to realise that the building had collapsed. Together with other members of the public, he rushed to the scene and helped rescue an injured man before emergency teams arrived.
The incident adds to a growing list of building collapses in Kenya, renewing concerns over construction safety standards, enforcement of building regulations, and oversight of ongoing developments across the country.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with authorities expected to provide further updates as the situation unfolds.
