At least eight builders are feared trapped in the rubble, after a five-storey hotel under construction collapsed at Makegi area in Kandara, Murang’a County on Friday afternoon, December 17.
According to an eyewitness, she said she was serving some of the workers their lunch when they heard a deafening sound and shortly after the building was down. The building came crumbling down at around 1.40 pm as the construction works were ongoing.
“It was a lucky escape for many of the workers because the large number was out having lunch,” the witness said.
Concerted rescue efforts by emergency response teams and medics were embarked on as soon as the structure collapsed. Police arrived at the scene and ran a cordon around the collapsed structure.
Fire engine trucks and ambulances from Murang’a and the neighbouring Kiambu County arrived at the scene minutes after the hotel came tumbling down.
The accommodation facility, called Sun Star, was in the advanced stages of construction. As of the time of publishing this story, only one person had been rescued.
Murang’a County Police Commander Donatha Kiplangat said 43 out of 51 people, who were near the structure, have been accounted for.