A building collapsed during a planned demolition Monday in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least four people and injuring several others after the operation went wrong, authorities said.
Officials from Kenya Ministry of Interior said rescue teams were searching through the rubble for possible survivors following the collapse.
Emergency crews, including soldiers from the Kenya Defence Forces, joined first responders and local authorities in the rescue effort as heavy debris covered the area.
Images from the scene showed victims being carried away on stretchers as emergency personnel continued to sift through the remains of the building.
The collapse occurred in the Shauri Moyo area, specifically within the Blue Estate community.
Authorities said the building had been scheduled for demolition as part of the Nairobi River Regeneration Project, a government program aimed at clearing illegal structures and restoring sections of the Nairobi River.
Rescuers managed to pull at least two people alive from the wreckage shortly after the structure collapsed.
However, journalists at the scene reported seeing multiple bodies recovered from the debris. The Interior Ministry later confirmed that at least four people had died in the incident.
Officials said four others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals.
Authorities said it was not immediately clear what caused the demolition operation to fail.
Investigators are expected to examine whether safety procedures were followed and whether demolition methods contributed to the collapse.
The Interior Ministry said rescue operations would continue until authorities were certain no one remained trapped beneath the rubble.
Building collapses are a recurring problem in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, where rapid urban growth and high demand for housing have strained regulatory enforcement.
Investigations in the past have shown that some developers bypass building regulations or ignore safety standards to speed up construction projects.
In 2015, eight building collapses across Kenya killed at least 15 people, prompting Government of Kenya to order a nationwide audit of construction standards.
The review conducted by the National Construction Authority found that about 58% of buildings in Nairobi failed to meet required safety standards.
Urban planners and safety experts have repeatedly warned that poor oversight and illegal construction continue to pose serious risks for residents in the rapidly growing capital.
The Associated Press
