Body of missing man recovered from collapsed building in Mombasa
The deceased was last seen on April 2 on CCTV footage entering the building, shortly after which, a week later, it was brought down by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The body of a man who went missing inside the recently demolished eleven-storey building at Fayaz Kilifi Corner in Mombasa has finally been recovered after nearly twelve days of search operations.
Yussuf Ali Abdi’s remains were pulled from the rubble early Sunday morning and transported to the Coast General Hospital mortuary.
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The deceased was last seen on April 2 on CCTV footage entering the building, shortly after which, a week later, it was brought down by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Speaking at the site, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir confirmed the recovery and said the family had positively identified the body.
“We have retrieved the body from the debris, and the family has confirmed it is that of Yussuf Ali Abdi. The process took longer due to the manner in which the building collapsed. Investigations are still underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse, and once the taskforce concludes its probe, the findings will be made public and legal action will follow,” the governor stated.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir confirmed the recovery and said the family had positively identified the body. (Farhiya Hussein)
On behalf of the family, Liban Hirsi thanked the government for its efforts in locating the body and commended the officers from various departments and the people of Mombasa for standing with them during the difficult period.
“We deeply appreciate the assistance we received from the county government and security agencies. The support from the people of Mombasa through prayers gave us strength as we waited for answers,” said Liban.
Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno lauded the coordination of various units in conducting the operation.
“This mission has been executed successfully since the moment we received reports of the building collapse. Every team played its role professionally,” he said.
Mombasa County Commissioner Mohammed Noor addressing the press outside Coast General Hospital mortuary. (Farhiya Hussein)
Mombasa County Commissioner Mohammed Noor echoed the sentiment, describing the operation as one of the most well-coordinated in the country’s history. He added that over 60 families had been evacuated from the area to facilitate the rescue and recovery efforts.
“This has been an unprecedented operation in Kenya, not only in scale but also in professionalism. The safety of the public was our top priority throughout,” he noted.
The retrieval of Yussuf’s body has brought closure to his grieving family, who are now preparing to give him a proper Islamic burial. However, the pressing question remains: what led to the sudden collapse of the building?
Investigations are ongoing to establish whether structural weaknesses, negligence, or other factors played a role in the tragedy.
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