Ongoing rescue operations have found one more dead person bringing to three the number of fatalities following the collapse of a six-storey building in Nairobi's Huruma estate at 8:50PM Sunday evening.

Forty people have so far been rescued with 26 having been treated and discharged. Fourteen others are still admitted in hospital undergoing treatment.

The Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Unit Pius Masai Mwachi made the update Monday morning and added that the information desk set up at the scene has recorded three people missing.

The Kenya Red Cross, Saint John Ambulance Services and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International officials are providing medical treatment on site. The emergency service providers are also conducting psycho-social support for the injured.

The six-storey residential structure collapsed Sunday evening, under circumstances suspected to have been caused by poor workmanship and the ongoing construction of a seventh floor.

"The seventh floor of the ill-fated building was under construction, while six floors were occupied when the top five floors caved in. The collapse is suspected to have been caused by poor workmanship, substandard materials, and extra weight from unapproved additional floors," Fred Majiwa the Communications Manager St John Ambulance said.

This latest incident follows a similar occurrence in which a five-storey building in Makongeni estate collapsed killing six people. The Makongeni building also had a sixth floor under construction while the five other floors were already occupied.

Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero who toured the site of the building said the documents at City Hall showed that the structure was only approved for four floors but three floors were illegally added.

Kidero sounded a warning to contractors, developers and workmen saying that any of them engaged in illegal buildings will be arrested and prosecuted.

Kidero added that the Makongeni contractor was arrested and is to be arraigned in court and should he be released on bail, he will be charged in city court for an illegal construction.

Rescue operations are still on going and are being conducted by the National Youth Service and the military.

Courtesy The Star