Two people have died after a building collapsed at Nairobi's Gikomba Market on Thursday evening. Rescue teams also searched for several others feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The collapse occurred in Block B of the market. The section had suffered severe damage during the massive fire that swept through Gikomba on Sunday.
Witnesses said the building gave way while several young men were inside. The group had entered the structure to collect scrap metal and dismantle damaged sections.
Rescue Teams Rush to Scene
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the market. Firefighters, police officers and Kenya Red Cross personnel launched a search and rescue operation.
Videos from the scene showed rescuers working under floodlights. They searched through broken concrete, twisted metal and other debris as traders and residents watched nearby.
"The Kenya Red Cross is supporting response efforts following a building collapse at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Search and rescue operations are ongoing alongside the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade," the agency said.
Rescue teams continued searching for hours before ending the overnight operation. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the exercise had concluded after recovering victims from the scene.
"The overnight search and retrieval operation at Gikomba Market has been successfully concluded through the joint efforts of the Nairobi City County Fire Brigade, Kenya Red Cross first responders and the National Police Service," the agency said.
The humanitarian organization also pledged psychosocial support for affected families. Officials said support would be provided through the appropriate channels.
Authorities Yet to Issue Statement
Authorities had not released the identities of the victims by the time of publication. Nairobi County and the National Police Service also had not issued detailed statements on the collapse.
The tragedy comes only days after a major fire destroyed stalls and weakened parts of the market. Traders have repeatedly urged authorities to improve safety standards at Gikomba following years of recurring fires and structural incidents.
