A building under construction in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, collapsed on Friday, sparking an urgent rescue operation amid fears that at least four people may be trapped beneath the debris.

Emergency teams from the Kenya Red Cross and the Disaster Response Battalion of the Kenya Defence Forces were deployed to the scene, using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to search through the rubble. The operation was continuing as authorities worked against time to reach anyone still buried.

Early assessments by Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku suggest the structure may have failed due to column overload. Officials say the building had been approved for 12 storeys but had reportedly reached between 14 and 16 storeys before it collapsed.

Following the incident, authorities ordered the suspension of all construction activity in the South C area of Nairobi. The National Construction Authority has been tasked with carrying out fresh inspections as investigations continue into possible violations of building regulations.

–ChannelAfrica–