Evacuation starts as Mombasa readies for controlled demolition of dangerous building
Patients at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, which lies within the danger zone, have been moved.
The Mombasa County government has ordered an emergency evacuation of residents and patients within a 1.2-kilometre radius of an unsafe nine-storey building which will be demolished tomorrow in a high-risk operation aimed at averting a potential disaster.
The building, located off Abdel Nasser Road, has been declared structurally unsound following a multi-agency assessment that revealed severe foundational damage caused by unauthorised borehole drilling.
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The inspection team, comprising the County Department of Lands, the National Building Inspectorate and the Kenya Defence Forces, confirmed the collapse of ground floor columns by up to three metres, rendering the structure a ticking time bomb.
Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, in a press briefing on Tuesday, said the county had no choice but to act swiftly to protect lives.
“We have reached a point of no return. A controlled demolition must happen, and this building will be brought down by the military. This decision has been made for the safety of the residents themselves. The order is clear: everyone within a 1.2-kilometre radius must evacuate.”
The governor issued an urgent plea to residents and workers in the affected zone, which spans from Abdel Nasser Road to Marikiti and Buxton, to stay away and avoid all schools, madrassas, mosques and workplaces within the specified radius.
“From 6:00 am tomorrow, no one should be in the area. Stay away, do not go to work, and avoid mosques and schools nearby. We have already evacuated patients from Coast General to underline the seriousness of this situation,” he added.
Patients at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH), which lies within the danger zone, have been moved.
Of the 504 patients, 380 were discharged, while 124 others, including those in the intensive care unit, were relocated to alternative facilities, including Port Reitz Sub-County Hospital and CGTRH Utange.
In a memo to staff, CGTRH CEO Iqbal Khandwalla confirmed that the hospital would not admit new patients starting today (Tuesday) and urged the public to seek medical services at designated alternative health facilities.
“Given that CGTRH is within the radius of impact, it is necessary to prioritise the safety of our patients and staff,” the memo stated.
The Kenya Defence Forces will handle the core demolition operation, including securing the blast zone.
An outer perimeter will be enforced by the National Police Service and County Inspectorate officers.
Traders and businesses within the area have been instructed to shut down and vacate by 2:00 pm today.
“This is a bomb. There is a possibility that flying metal or debris may injure anyone within proximity, so we do not want casualties,” the governor cautioned.
“Even if your home is not directly affected, the shockwaves can harm your ears or lungs. This is why workers near the site will wear ear protection, and everyone else must stay away.”
Additional safety measures include closure of Nyali Bridge to all traffic one hour before the blast, deployment of community health promoters, chiefs, and elders to oversee full evacuation and sensitisation, Immediate suspension of all madrassa and school activities within the zone, temporary closure of mosques in the vicinity, except for afternoon prayers (Al-Asr), which will be observed under strict safety protocols.
The operation is expected to conclude within the day, after which debris removal and further site investigations will commence.
Nassir confirmed that an interim report on the building’s condition exists, but details will be made public at a later date.
The county government has appealed for calm and full cooperation from the public.
“We are doing this for your safety so that no lives are lost. Even the ICU patients are being moved, so if you are healthy, there’s no reason to put yourself at risk,” the governor said.
The controlled demolition marks one of the most significant risk mitigation efforts undertaken in the region, involving coordinated action from multiple government agencies and security forces.
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