Four people have been rescued from a collapsed building in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, as rescue operations entered their third night on Sunday. Several others remain missing, with some reportedly communicating with loved ones from beneath the rubble.
The 18-story building crumbled Friday on a busy commercial street. Trapped inside were construction workers and individuals on the ground and basement floors, which authorities said had been illegally occupied. Rescuers worked through concrete and steel debris, pulling two more people alive from the rubble on Sunday, bringing the total number of survivors to four.
Among the rescued was tailor Victor Onyango, who recounted seeing light and knowing rescuers were near. He told journalists that he informed rescuers about a woman trapped behind the rubble, who was subsequently rescued. Both Onyango and another survivor, shop owner Zaynaba Mohammed, were treated and discharged from the hospital.
Families of the missing gathered, awaiting news. While initial reports on Friday indicated seven people were inside the rubble, the Kenya Red Cross stated Sunday that missing persons reports had climbed to 47. Relatives expressed dwindling hope, with one stating that a trapped loved one had been without food and water for three days.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja called for stricter enforcement of building regulations, describing current fines as insufficient for developers who risk lives. The owner of the collapsed building is deceased, and the property was under joint ownership. Authorities have indicated that the building lacked approval and a certificate of occupancy, yet shops were operating on the ground and basement floors. It remains unclear if anyone has been arrested.