Fears of casualties have risen after a multi-storey building under construction collapsed in Nairobi, Kenya, with reports that workers and other people may be trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, estimated to be about 18 storeys high, came down around lunchtime on Friday in Eastleigh, a densely populated commercial and residential neighbourhood in the Kenyan capital, the Red Cross said.
Videos shared online showed the structure crashing to the ground and sending huge clouds of dust into the air. By the time journalists arrived, the building had been reduced to a pile of rubble.
A small number of search and rescue teams were seen arriving at the scene, but rescue operations had yet to begin when AFP journalists reached the site. The surrounding high-rise buildings were also complicating access.
Local media reported possible casualties trapped under the debris and looting at the site. Large crowds gathered after the collapse, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse people near the scene.
A resident, Abdi Aziz, 25, said businesses operated in the building’s basement and workers had been busy with construction when the structure collapsed.
He suggested the death toll might be limited because many people were attending Friday prayers at the time and the building was not occupied by residents.
Asked about possible construction flaws, Aziz said, “Everyone rushes to build in this neighbourhood.”
The incident has renewed concerns about building safety in Nairobi, which is experiencing a rapid construction boom, particularly in Eastleigh, a major market district and hub for the Somali community.
A report by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis recorded 86 building collapses between 2009 and 2019, resulting in an estimated 200 deaths.
The report also cited an audit by the National Building Inspectorate covering nearly 15,000 buildings. It found that 4.8 per cent were classified as very dangerous, while 72.3 per cent were deemed unsafe.
Construction has continued to expand as Nairobi attracts people from rural areas and neighbouring countries. According to the country’s statistics bureau, the number of buildings completed annually in the city rose from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 in 2025.
Authorities had yet to provide an official casualty figure or details about the cause of Friday’s collapse at the time of the report.
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