WATCH: Moment Building Collapsed In Kahawa West, Several Feared Trapped

Several people are feared trapped after a multi-storey building in Kahawa West, Nairobi collapsed on Sunday, October 20.

A seven-second clip seen by Viral Tea revealed the building crumbling down much to the horror of onlookers who scampered to safety as a huge cloud of dust formed after the collapse.

Another clip showed a group of residents gathered outside the building before a man could be heard instructing them to move clear of the ill-fated building which crashed down to earth seconds later.

Here is the video:

Some 10 minutes ago at Kahawa West... Several families trapped inside! pic.twitter.com/1aEnsDFm8Q — Juma G ???????? (@jumaf3) October 20, 2024

According to preliminary eyewitness reports, the building housed both businesses and residential units. By the time this article was published, the cause of the collapse had yet to be established.

Kenya Red Cross, in response to the incident, stated that "A multi-agency response team is currently responding to a building collapse in Kahawa West, Nairobi County, where people are feared trapped. More updates to follow."

The Nairobi City County Government confirmed the collapse of the unit along Station Road in the densely populated neighbourhood.

"Currently, all Nairobi County Teams are fully engaged in disaster recovery and evacuating occupants from adjacent buildings," a statement from Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration seen by Viral Tea read.

Preliminary reports indicate area residents were informed about a possible collapse in advance. The building, which was marked for demolition, did not affect other adjacent structures.

On June 12, Kenya Red Cross led a rescue operation after five people were trapped when a four-storey building collapsed in the Gateway area of Mathare North, Nairobi County. It began with preliminary reports indicating that the building had been partially demolished when it caved in with people inside.

The humanitarian relief organization, through its Nairobi branch, first reported the collapse, with its rescue teams deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.

This is the second such incident to occur involving a building undergoing demolition, in adherence to Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki's directive on May 3 regarding the demolition of buildings and structures illegally erected on riparian lands along Nairobi's riverbanks, mainly impacting structures within 30 metres of the Ngong, Mathare, and Nairobi rivers.

On May 14, several people lost their lives after being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building in the same residential area.

Remnants of a building which collapsed in Kahawa West on Sunday, October 20, 2024. /COURTESY