Kenya recovers more bodies from building collapse

The death toll from a building which collapsed in Nairobi last week due to heavy rains rose to 26 on Wednesday after three more bodies were retrieved from the debris.

Paius Masai, National Disaster Management Unit Incident Commander said the three bodies were pulled out of the building on Tuesday night in the rescue operation which also saw nine rabbits rescued.

“Three more bodies were recovered last night.

“Nine rabbits were also rescued alive from the debris and one was found dead. So far, 136 people have been rescued alive, 26 confirmed dead and 93 others are still missing,” he said.
Masai said that rescue operation which kicked off last Friday was still continuing after the six-story residential building which had been earlier earmarked for demolition, collapsed in Nairobi’s low-income Huruma residential estate.

“We appeal to anyone who has a missing relative to be patient since the exercise is delicate due to balancing both safety of rescuers and victims.’’

Kenya Red Cross Society confirmed that families have also been displaced and approximately 200 households had been affected and were currently camping at a chief office in Kinyago village in Eastleigh.

It said that the residents confirmed that the building was built on a waterway, blocking the passage of water which could have weakened its structure and collapsed after heavy rains and flooding on Friday night.

KRCS said that unconfirmed reports indicated there was no construction plan and that the building had not been approved.

It said that residents said owners and developers of such structures regularly use court orders to block Nairobi County from pulling down structures earmarked for demolition.

The Red Cross said its collaboration with National Youth Service, and the military, which had deployed machinery to support the operation.

It said it had mobilised partner support to provide heavy machinery resources, and participating in search and rescue.

Red Cross said that three bodies were retrieved after a six months old baby girl was pulled out alive from the rubble, four days after the incident occurred.

“There were celebrations when ‘baby Favour’ whose real name is Dealeryn Saisi Wasike was found suckling her fingers in a basin wrapped in a blanket early Tuesday.

“The baby has since been reunited with her father, Ralson Saisi Wasike while the body of her mother was found at a morgue.

NAN