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RESCUERS IN THE Kenyan capital made desperate efforts today to free survivors, including a woman and child trapped in a building that collapsed in storms that have left a total of 17 people dead.
President Uhuru Kenyatta visited the wreck of the six-storey building today, where ten people perished after concrete floors collapsed down on top of each other during torrential rainstorms on yesterday.
The two-year-old building, home to more than over 150 families, had been condemned by building authorities but the order had been ignored.
“Ten bodies have been recovered, and we have 80 people who have been treated and discharged from hospital,” Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery told reporters amid the wreckage of the building.
Seven other people died in floods elsewhere in Nairobi, including four killed when a wall collapsed.
“There is a lady in the building and her child who are alive, and all efforts are being made to rescue them, as well as other people still believed to be in the building,” Nkaissery said.
‘Ignored directives’
But access for rescuers with larger machinery has been made difficult by the narrow and crowded streets.
One survivor was pulled from the huge pile of debris shortly after dawn, Kenya Red Cross said, some 10 hours after the building collapsed last night.
Pictures broadcast by local media showed soldiers, policemen and civilians searching through the rubble.
Kenyatta “braved the rainy and chilly weather” to visit densely-populated and poor Huruma neighbourhood, a statement from the presidency said.
He ordered police “take immediate action to identify and arrest owners of buildings who have ignored directives by the National Construction Authority”, it said.
The building collapsed at around 9.30pm (6.30pm GMT) Friday following some of the heaviest downpours since the start of the rainy season that caused flooding and landslides in many areas of the city.
Two neighbouring buildings were declared unsafe and were evacuated.
In other separate incidents, two people drowned when their vehicle was swept away by storm waters in the capital’s Industrial Area, another person died in floods.
Nairobi has been in the midst of a building boom for some years but the quality of materials used and speed of construction have sometimes been called into question.
The growing middle class has triggered an explosion in demand for housing and a rise in real estate prices in the east African capital.
- © AFP 2016.
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A serous post from me for a change. Last weekend my sister had to douse a girl who’s hair had caught fire in a pub. she lost quite a bit of hair but it could’ve been so much worse. I know candles create a nice cosy and intimate atmosphere but publicans and night club owners really need to think about where they put them, especially if they are expecting a large crowd.
well done to your sister! and i wish the man a speedy recovery.
Not always candles, there is always the “funny person” who decides to get his lighter out of the pocket for fun without realising how far their actions can go! There were no candles in that nightclub
there’s a pub in dun laoghaire that bizarrely leaves candles lined up on the stairs to the toilets
Fed up of Halloween here in Sligo last night the thugs were out in force terror inflicted on normal citizens.
Touch any of them any you would face a lawsuit.
I wish to god Halloween could be cancelled.
Interesting choice of words there Shamy. Elaborating upon that train of thought.. maybe next year you could get dressed up as well. I know where you can get a good deal on a Jimmy Savile costume. That’ll learn ‘em!
Apparantly he was set alight as opposed just catching fire.
That would explain the Garda investigation.
Eh, you essentially still did post it. And it was a crap forced pun anyway, so you must be pretty embarrassed right now.
Even the trick or treaters last night were a nightmare even with their parents they were kicking the door, demanding more sweets, no cheap sweets and then swearing. These are the future thugs of Halloween
I know what I’d be giving to anyone who had the balls to kick my front door.
If the do that open the door abd trough a bucket of water on them, trust me! They will never bother u again lol
does any one know if the fire retardant regulations that apply to clothes, apply to costumes here.
A man around the corner from us died yesterday. He fell down the stairs while trying to get a “Tigger” costume off. He apparently tripped over the tail at the top of the stairs. This all happened in front of his poor wife. RIP
R.I.P. very sad
Halloween was fine until a couple of young men decided to set off fireworks after 10 pm near our house. They’d walk to a nearby street and do same. They came back about 1 hour later for more. I’m sorry to hear people got hurt and even killed yesterday. My heart goes out to their families.
You’re right Sean. My bad. Delete first part of my comment.
baseball bat is a nice instrument
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