Police dispel crowds with tear gas after 16-storey building collapses in Nairobi

A high-rise building in Kenya’s capital Nairobi was reduced to rubble on Friday after collapsing while under construction.

The 16-storey buidling came down in the densely populated business and residential area of Eastleigh. There are fears of multiple casualties, with people trapped under the debris.

Local media reported looting immediately after the collapse and police used tear gas to disperse crowds of onlookers.

Africa’s leading business hub, Nairobi is undergoing a rapid construction boom, with high-rise buildings appearing across the city.

The number of buildings completed annually in Nairobi has risen from 20,025 in 2022 to 25,090 last year, according to its statistics bureau, as east Africa's leading business hub sucks in people from rural areas and neighbouring countries.

But there are concerns over safety as corruption allows contractors to cut corners and bypass regulations.

Last year, Kenyan authorities found that 87 percent of buildings audited nationwide failed to meet standards or lacked the required approvals.

Five people were killed when a six-storey building collapsed in a town on the outskirts of Nairobi in September 2022.

In April 2016, 49 people were killed when a six-floor apartment building crumbled in the northeast of the capital after days of heavy rain caused floods and landslides.

Related articles

Nairobi building collapse raises safety concerns as rescuers search rubble

At least six dead after 5-storey building collapses in Cairo

Four people trapped after Nairobi building collapses, rescue operations ongoing

From the same country

Red Cross trains staff as Kenya records its second death from Ebola

Kenya: huge piles of rubble after high-rise building collapses

Gunfire rocks Ethiopia-Kenya border as hundreds flee

00:55 Nairobi building collapse raises safety concerns as rescuers search rubble

01:12

At least six dead after 5-storey building collapses in Cairo

01:46 Four people trapped after Nairobi building collapses, rescue operations ongoing

02:00

Red Cross trains staff as Kenya records its second death from Ebola

01:00

Kenya: huge piles of rubble after high-rise building collapses

Gunfire rocks Ethiopia-Kenya border as hundreds flee

00:55 Nairobi building collapse raises safety concerns as rescuers search rubble

01:12

At least six dead after 5-storey building collapses in Cairo

01:46 Four people trapped after Nairobi building collapses, rescue operations ongoing

02:00

Red Cross trains staff as Kenya records its second death from Ebola

01:00

Kenya: huge piles of rubble after high-rise building collapses

Gunfire rocks Ethiopia-Kenya border as hundreds flee

NEWS

01:55

Nigeria steps up airport health screenings over Ebola fears

NEWS 01:18 WHO: Africa facing 'complex' Ebola outbreak after Nigeria reports first case

NEWS 01:02 Guinea's ex-Constitutional Court president sentenced to seven years in jail

NEWS 01:03 Madagascar pauses corruption cases relating to ex-president, officials

NEWS 02:23 Kenya: Relatives welcome guilty verdict in Shakahola starvation cult massacre

NEWS 01:08 Guilty as charged: Kenyan court finds cult leader responsible of 191 starvation deaths

01:30

Nigeria

Nigeria's Tinubu defends policies as he launches re-election bid

01:13

Gabon

Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

01:01 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport partially resumes flights after Houthi attacks