KENYA: Two dead after building collapses on outskirts of Nairobi

Record ID: 216207

  • Title: KENYA: Two dead after building collapses on outskirts of Nairobi
  • Date: 21st October 2009
  • Summary: KIAMBU, KENYA (OCTOBER 20, 2009) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WATCHING RESCUE EFFORTS MECHANICAL DIGGER MOVING RUBBLE RESCUE WORKERS ON REMAINS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING RESCUE WORKERS WITH SHOVELS (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN MWANGI, PHYSICIAN, KAHAWA NURSING HOME, SAYING: "Two were found dead, the residents say OK, those people who were working here, they are fearing that about 3
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVAE9YLCSLD7GKWGQ4BCGS687RUS
  • Story Text: Two people were killed when a building under construction collapsed in a town just outside Nairobi and dozens may still be trapped inside, witnesses said on Tuesday (October 20).
    The planned five-storey shopping complex caved in on Monday (October 19) when construction workers were still inside. There was no official confirmation on how many were in the building when it collapsed and the number of people trapped was also unclear.
    Some witnesses at the scene said there could be up to 30 people under the rubble.
    "Two were found dead, the residents say OK, those people who were working here, they are fearing that about 30 are still in the building ... are still trapped inside," said Stephen Mwangi, a physician at a nearby nursing home.
    Heavy rains have hampered the rescue operations, which continued into the night on Monday.
    "The rescue process is still going on slowly, slowly, slowly, so the hopes of getting somebody are diminishing," Mwangi said.
    It was not immediately clear what caused the building to collapse.
    In 2006 a building collapsed in downtown Nairobi killing at least 12 people. Investigators said the building was being constructed too quickly without proper support.
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