Rescuers have recovered a second body from the rubble of the collapsed building in Eastleigh, Nairobi. The National Police Service (NPS) said on Tuesday that a multi-agency team had retrieved the body of a woman from the site. Police said four people have been rescued alive so far.
The multi-storey building was under construction on 9th Street in Eastleigh. It collapsed on October 23, trapping workers and others who may have been inside. The first body, also that of a woman, was recovered on October 30. Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan announced that recovery, Capital FM reported via AllAfrica.
According to The Star, rescue teams have been working to reach the lower parts of the structure, especially the basement. Some of the missing were believed to be trapped there. Rescuers are working through tonnes of concrete to reach sections that remain inaccessible.
About 85 per cent of the debris had been cleared as of November 1, The Star reported. A verification exercise by the Kenya Red Cross and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) found that 16 people were still unaccounted for. Nairobi North County Commissioner Simon Osumba said mobile phone data placed nine of the missing at the building shortly before it collapsed. Capital FM noted that authorities have not released an updated figure for the missing.
In its statement, the NPS extended its heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. It also wished the injured a quick and full recovery. Police asked the public to keep away from the site so that responders and specialised equipment can work without interference. The Eastleigh Voice reported that Hassan said he was saddened by the latest recovery. He called for the search to continue. Families have spent days at the site waiting for news.
The collapse has also triggered a criminal probe. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed the DCI to investigate possible negligence, omissions or misconduct by public officials, developers and construction professionals. According to The Star, investigators will check whether the building had the required approvals, was properly inspected and met safety rules. The NPS said it would issue further updates as the operation continues.