Soil saturation behind Mombasa building collapse that killed construction worker - NCA report
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
The incident, which occurred on Monday tragically resulted in one death and injured four construction workers.
A preliminary investigation by the National Construction Authority (NCA) has suggested that soil saturation, caused by a nearby soakage pit, may have led to the collapse of a building under construction in Mombasa's Majengo area.
The incident, which occurred on Monday morning, November 11, 2024, tragically resulted in one death and injured four construction workers.
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The NCA's report indicates that the 17-storey residential building was still in its initial construction stages.
At the time of the collapse, workers were reportedly conducting foundation work on one half of the site and excavation on the other.
NCA noted that the building had obtained all the necessary statutory approvals, dismissing claims that lack of compliance could have contributed to the structural failure.
"Preliminary reports have confirmed that the project had the requisite statutory approvals," read part of the NCA statement.
"The report also indicates the possible cause of the collapse to be soil saturation from a nearby soakage pit," it read further.
Follow-up probe
The Authority plans a detailed follow-up investigation in the coming days to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
A soakage pit, or soakaway pit, is a porous underground chamber designed to allow water to seep slowly into the ground. Such pits are generally recommended to be dug between 1.5 and 4 meters deep to prevent potential saturation issues.
Following the collapse, a multi-agency response team comprising the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Police, and the County Government of Mombasa arrived at the scene to carry out search and rescue operations.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed two immediate rescues and reported that one person was trapped under the rubble as of Monday afternoon.
The collapse occurred shortly after the meteorological department predicted heavy rains in the coastal region and other parts of the country.
Flooding from the rainfall may have exacerbated soil conditions around the construction site, contributing to the structural instability.
This incident adds to a troubling series of recent building collapses across Kenya.
Last month, a seven-storey building in Kahawa West, Nairobi, collapsed, leading to the tragic death of a young child.
These incidents have sparked growing concerns about construction standards and site evaluations across the country.
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