Rescue teams have recovered the body of a woman from the debris of a collapsed multi-storey building in Eastleigh, Nairobi, as the search for people still trapped beneath the rubble enters its eighth day. The recovery marks another grim development in the rescue operation, which began on Friday, October 23, after the building collapsed along 9th Street while still under construction.
Emergency responders have continued working around the clock to clear the debris and reach sections of the structure where people are believed to have been trapped. The operation has particularly focused on accessing the lower levels and basement, where rescuers suspect more victims could still be buried. Despite the challenges, rescue teams have made progress in clearing the wreckage, with approximately 80 per cent of the debris reportedly removed. The remaining work is concentrated on reaching the deeper sections of the collapsed structure.
16 People Still Unaccounted For
On Thursday, authorities announced that 16 people remained unaccounted for following a verification exercise conducted by the Kenya Red Cross and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said investigators had used phone data to establish the possible whereabouts of some of the missing individuals before the building came down.
According to Osumba, phone records placed nine of the missing people at the construction site shortly before the collapse. Authorities were still pursuing information in four other cases, while three families had not submitted phone numbers required to support the tracing exercise. The verification process is intended to help emergency teams establish an accurate list of those who may have been inside or around the building when it collapsed.
Rescue Teams Detect Possible Signs of Life
Earlier in the operation, hopes of finding additional survivors were raised after specialised equipment detected possible signs of life beneath the rubble. National Disaster Management Unit Director Dr Duncan Ochieng said rescue personnel were working to reach the specific locations where the signals had been detected.
The equipment has been crucial in guiding responders as they navigate the unstable debris and attempt to access areas that cannot easily be reached using conventional rescue methods. The multi-agency teams have continued coordinating their efforts to ensure that the remaining sections are carefully cleared as they search for anyone who may still be trapped.
DCI Investigates Circumstances Surrounding Collapse
Meanwhile, investigations into the circumstances that led to the building’s collapse have intensified, with detectives questioning one of the developers and several officials from relevant regulatory institutions. Those questioned include representatives from Nairobi County, the National Building Inspectorate and the National Construction Authority.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed the DCI to investigate possible acts of omission involving public officials, developers and construction professionals associated with the project. The investigations are expected to establish whether there were failures in the approval, inspection, supervision and construction processes that may have contributed to the incident.
Multi-Agency Rescue Operation Continues
The building collapsed at approximately 1pm on Friday, October 23, triggering an extensive emergency response involving several government agencies and humanitarian organisations. The operation has brought together the National Disaster Management Unit, Kenya Red Cross, Nairobi County emergency response teams, security agencies and other rescue personnel. As the search enters its eighth day, emergency teams continue working to reach the remaining sections of the structure, establish the whereabouts of those still missing and determine the full extent of the tragedy.
