Several People Feared Trapped After a Seven-Storey Building Collapses in Kasarani, Nairobi

Rescue operations are underway after a seven-storey building under construction collapsed at the Seasons area in Kasarani, Nairobi on Tuesday afternoon.

An unknown number of people, mostly construction workers, are feared trapped in the rubble as rescue operations continue.

Rescue workers were seen trying to locate the victims on Tuesday night. Excavators were also brought to the site to help with moving heavy concrete.

Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) Disaster Response Batallion also arrived at the scene to help in rescue operations.

A construction worker told Nation that officers from the County Governemnt of Nairobi visited the site on Tuesday morning for inspection and advised workers to leave the construction site immediately. 

But the building's supervisor reportedly asked the workers to ignore the warning and proceed with construction. Some of the workers said they noticed cracks on the walls of the ground floor in the morning.

Those injured were taken to St Francis Hospital in Kasarani for treatment.

Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri is among leaders who arrived on site following news of the building collapse.