Kenya: Rescuers Battle Stacked Concrete Slabs in Race to Reach Missing Eastleigh Victims

Rescue workers in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate are facing complex physical hazards after the collapse of an 18-storey building on Yusuf Haji Avenue was identified as a structural "pancake collapse".

Engineers at the scene confirmed that the high-rise suffered a vertical failure, with upper floors collapsing directly onto lower levels. The pattern leaves compacted layers of concrete and steel, creating exceptionally narrow spaces for search and rescue operations.

Institution of Engineers of Kenya Vice-President Robert Otieno Ogallo said visual assessments confirmed the structural failure type, which creates severe risks for search teams working to reach those feared trapped.

"I have been able to determine visually that this is a pancake collapse," Mr Ogallo said, explaining that moving heavy rubble requires precise coordination to prevent remaining slabs from shifting and crushing any surviving pockets.

The warning from structural experts comes amid reports that the building showed visible signs of distress prior to the disaster.

"People here are saying distresses were observed, like cracks," Mr Ogallo said, warning that the use of substandard construction materials creates a "time bomb" for high-rise developments.

The National Construction Authority confirmed the project was registered on July 30, 2025, with 9th Street Plaza Limited listed as the developer.

Multi-agency search teams, supported by heavy excavators and specialized canine units, have continued clearing debris along Yusuf Haji Avenue and 9th Street. Police have barred the public from the immediate area to facilitate rescue operations.

The National Police Service has launched a manhunt for the building’s owner and the contractor as investigations into potential criminal negligence get under way.

"Any individual or entity found capable of negligence or of violating building regulations will face the full force of the law," NPS spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said.

Nairobi Police Commander Issa Mohamud reassured the public that investigators will trace accountability across the entire approval and construction chain.

"Whoever is the owner, whoever authorised the building, all of them will be charged properly. But that will come after thorough investigation is done," Mr Mohamud said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen stated that 66 of the 67 construction workers present at the site escaped unharmed, while one worker was injured. Ground-floor and basement shops were operational at the time of the incident, leaving several people unaccounted for.

The Kenya Red Cross reported that two injured survivors have been rescued from the rubble and taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment.

As of Saturday afternoon, 31 missing-person cases had been reported to the Red Cross tracing desk set up at the scene. The agency continues to assist families searching for relatives through its tracing desk and toll-free emergency line, 1199.