Scores feared dead as 6-storey building collapses in Kenyan capital

Several people are feared dead and others injured after a six-storey residential building collapsed in Huruma, on the east of Nairobi, Kenya, following heavy rains on Friday evening.

The building hosted several houses occupied by families in the low-income neighbourhood.

Most tenants were trapped under the rubble of the building as rescuers comprising of Kenya Red Cross (KRC) officials, the police and residents struggled to dig through to save lives.

KRC said they had saved three children and an adult and transferred them to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.

The humanitarian organization said the scenes were chaotic, hampering rescue efforts, as residents milled around the debris.

"Rescue mission is underway, but it is being hampered by the heavy traffic jam on major Nairobi roads. We are coordinating to see how far we can go to save lives,"city police boss Japheth Koome said.

The building, according to residents, was built on a waterway, blocking the passage of water which could have weakened its structure.

There has been a heavy downpour in Nairobi for the last two days, with rain intensity rising from Friday afternoon.

Many roads and suburbs in the capital were flooded due to the heavy rains leading to traffic jams that left many commuters stranded in the city centre.

Families have also been displaced, with KRC confirming that approximately 150 households had been affected and were currently camping at a chief office in Kinyago village in Eastleigh.

According to weather forecasts, the rains would continue in the coming weeks.

Source: XINHUA