Nairobi building collapse leaves many feared trapped

A multi-storey building collapsed while under construction in Nairobi on Friday, leaving many people feared trapped in the rubble in the densely populated Eastleigh area.

Police said one woman had been rescued and that rescuers could hear the voice of another person. Search and rescue teams arrived at the site, but access was difficult because the collapsed building was jammed between other high-rise buildings.

Videos shared online showed the building, thought to have been around 18 storeys high, coming down and sending up large clouds of dust. The collapse happened around lunchtime.

Bibiye Mahmoud, president of the Institution of Engineering Technology of Kenya, told AFP at the scene that many people were trapped and criticised poor professional oversight in construction work.

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the priority was saving lives. He also said the building had no occupation certificate, which is the authority's formal sign-off that a building is safe and legally fit to be occupied.

John Ogallo, vice-president of the Institution of Engineers of Kenya, said people at the site reported warning signs such as cracks before the collapse.

Kenya's National Building Inspectorate found in a report that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide last year failed to meet standards or lacked required approvals. Nairobi has seen rapid construction growth, including in Eastleigh, a busy business and residential area.

Local media reported looting immediately after the collapse. AFP saw police use tear gas to disperse crowds near the site.