This is the terrifying moment a seven-storey building in Kenya collapsed, forcing locals to flee the scene while screaming.
Shocking footage captured the catastrophic incident which saw the building in Kahawa West, Nairobi, reduced to rubble with a loud crash on Sunday morning.
As the huge building appeared to collapse in slow motion, panicked passersby could be seen dashing from the site as thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky.
A search-and-rescue mission is now underway following the collapse as authorities fear there may be multiple casualties – with one already recorded, according to Governor of Nairobi, Sakaja Johnson.
Johnson said in an update: ‘So far, the only one casualty is reported; one middle aged lady, she was outside the building, she fell and injure when the building collapse. She currently is receiving treatment and she is stable’.
Terrifying footage shows the moment a seven-storey building collapsed in Kenya on Sunday
The tall building came crashing down in a plume of smoke as locals fled the scene
Authorities believe there may be multiple casualties – with one reported already
Kenya Red Cross said several families are likely to be trapped inside the collapsed building
Kenya Red Cross said several families are likely to be trapped inside the collapsed building, according to local reporters.
However, it’s unknown how many were inside at the time of the collapse.
Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said the residents had been evacuated from the house.
‘We are not sure if there were people still therein but I know there was an evacuation that happened. They knew it was weak,’ he said.
Nairobi County Executive Built Environment Patrick Mbogo has stated that occupants residing in adjacent buildings will also be evacuated as a precaution procedure.
Dicken Muchena, 31, who witnessed the collapse, said: ‘The building had already been earmarked as a threat to people early today.
‘There were signs of collapse so people started vacating.
‘I went out to find out more on the ground and that is when the house came down.
‘I was shell-shocked to see people who were near the building buried.
‘There was horror at the scene and confusion.’
The Nairobi City County Government has confirmed the collapse of a housing unit in Kahawa West area plot number. 233, along Station Road.
Currently, all Nairobi County teams are fully engaged in disaster recovery and evacuating occupants from surrounding buildings.
