Emergency response teams were on Wednesday deployed to Kibera’s Highrise area following the collapse of a building, with fears that several people may be trapped beneath the rubble.
In a statement, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed the incident and said rescue operations were ongoing at the scene.
“A building collapse has been reported in the Highrise area of Kibera,” the agency said.
“Emergency response teams are currently on site conducting search and rescue operations,” it added.
The humanitarian organisation noted that the number of people affected remains unclear, but warned that casualties were feared.
“An unconfirmed number of individuals are feared trapped beneath the debris,” the statement said.
Witnesses at the scene described a chaotic situation as residents and first responders rushed to assist those believed to be inside the structure at the time of the collapse.
Efforts have focused on clearing debris and locating survivors, with rescuers working against time.
Authorities had yet to confirm the cause of the collapse, though such incidents are often linked to structural weaknesses, poor construction standards, or heavy rainfall that compromises building integrity.
Police officers and disaster management teams have cordoned off the area to facilitate rescue operations and prevent further risk to the public. Medical personnel are also on standby to provide first aid and transfer any injured persons to nearby health facilities.
The Highrise section of Kibera is a densely populated settlement, where building collapses have previously been reported, particularly in areas with informal or substandard housing structures.
Officials have urged residents to keep away from the site to allow rescue teams to operate efficiently.
Further updates are expected as rescue efforts continue and authorities assess the full extent of the damage and any potential casualties.
