Six dead, scores injured after six-storey building collapses in Kiambu

Six people have been confirmed dead and scores of others left injured following the collapse of a six-storey building in the Kirigiti area, Kiambu Town.

The incident happened on Monday morning after the house crumbled on a residential house below it, trapping some people underneath.

A multi-agency team, including Kiambu County Fire & Disaster Management Department, Kenya Police, Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya Red Cross and well-wishers arrived at the site and began the rescue operations.

According to the police report, the shocking incident happened when some workers had already arrived at the site and by 9 am, they had already retrieved two bodies from the rubble and rescued seven other individuals.

Among the first responders to the incident included the Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who was on his way to work when he was alerted to the incident.

"Devastating News This Morning!" Wamatangi said.

"I was driving to the office this morning, and was diverted to the site of a building under construction that collapsed at Kirigiti in Kiambu Town."

He confirmed the incident and expressed fears that many people were still trapped under the rubble, as some had succumbed to their injuries and led in the rescue operations.

“Several people have already been pulled out of the rubble and rushed to the hospital. Sadly, some are feared to have succumbed to their injuries,” Wamatangi said.

He affirmed that the rescue operations will continue for individuals still trapped under the collapsed building.

"The search continues for those trapped under the debris," Wamatangi added.

It may take the rescue team a while to reach the ground floor and rescue the trapped individuals, and it is not yet clear how many people are strapped.

The head of Kiambu DCI Richard Mwaura said they were focused on rescuing victims of the disaster first and an investigation into the incident will take place later on.

“We are now focused on rescuing the victims and will deal with the rest later,” Mwaura said.

This is the latest building to collapse in Kiambu County after several others, as residents blame contractors for being greedy and the construction industry for failure to conduct proper supervision.