NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 4 — A body has been retrieved from the rubble of the collapsed South C building as search and rescue operations entered the third day on Sunday, with emergency teams continuing an intensive search for one other person believed to be trapped.
Addressing the media, Incident Commander and Director of the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) Duncan Onyango Ochieng said significant progress had been made since the operation began, even as the mission remained delicate and high-risk.
“We wish to inform the public that considerable progress has been made, and we commend the multi-agency Urban Search and Rescue teams who continue to work around the clock with unwavering dedication and professionalism,” Ochieng said.
He extended condolences to affected families and directly addressed relatives of the suspected victims, acknowledging the anxiety and emotional distress they continue to endure.
“Please be assured that the Incident Management Team is doing everything within its capacity, applying specialised skills, equipment and proven rescue techniques to locate and retrieve the suspected victims,” he said, adding that this commitment remains the guiding principle of all operational decisions.
Ochieng reiterated that the objectives of the operation remain unchanged: ensuring the safety of responders and the public, searching for and rescuing or recovering victims, and clearing debris to allow for the gradual restoration of normalcy once conditions permit.
Heightened danger
However, he cautioned that the site remains extremely hazardous.
A disaster risk assessment conducted on Sunday morning identified heightened dangers arising from the continuous movement of heavy machinery, increased debris along access routes, and exposed metallic materials within the active rescue zone.
As a result, members of the public and all responders without appropriate personal protective equipment—including helmets, eye and ear protection—were urged to stay away from the active operation areas.
The site has been clearly demarcated, and authorities appealed for strict adherence to safety boundaries to prevent secondary injuries and avoid disrupting rescue efforts.
The update comes a day after Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Geoffrey Ruku said rescue teams believed two people feared trapped in the collapsed structure may still have been alive, a belief that informed the intensity of the ongoing operation.
“The reports we have indicate that two persons may have been trapped inside the collapsed structure. There is reason to believe they could still be alive, and this belief continues to strongly inform and motivate the ongoing intensive rescue efforts,” Ruku said on Saturday.
Pancake-type collapse
The 14-storey building, which included a basement parking area, collapsed at around 4:05am on Friday near South C Shopping Centre and Nairobi South Hospital.
The government has described the incident as a pancake-type collapse, although the exact cause has yet to be established.
A multi-agency emergency response was activated immediately, led by the NDMU under the Incident Command System.
Specialised urban search and rescue teams have been working around the clock, deploying advanced equipment in an effort to maximise the critical rescue window associated with building collapses.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive investigation into the collapse is underway.
A multi-sectoral team comprising the National Police Service, the National Construction Authority (NCA), the Engineers Board of Kenya, BORAQS, NEMA, Nairobi City County and other agencies has been formed to establish the cause of the collapse and determine accountability.
The NCA has already indicated that the building was non-compliant at the time of collapse, while Nairobi City County confirmed it had issued three violation notices.
Preliminary assessments show the structure collapsed layer upon layer, compacting debris and significantly complicating rescue operations.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation—particularly on social media—and to rely only on verified government updates. Structural assessments of neighbouring buildings are ongoing.
