Mombasa residents evacuated as cracked building sparks collapse fears

Panic gripped residents near Coast General Hospital Wednesday night after a building under construction at Lighthouse, Kilifi Corner, developed large cracks, raising fears of an imminent collapse.

According to county officials, residents raised the alarm around 7.30 pm, prompting a swift response from emergency teams.

Mombasa County fire and disaster officers, led by Chief Fire Officer Ibrahim Basafar, rushed to the scene alongside Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno to assess the situation and coordinate evacuations.

County Lands Executive Mohamed Hussein assured residents that authorities were taking all necessary precautions.

"We are currently assessing how we can bring down this building without causing major casualties. We have managed to evacuate everyone, and no one is near the site," he said.

He commended the county’s disaster response team for working tirelessly until the early hours of the morning to safeguard lives.

"We thank God and the county officers who dedicated themselves until 2 am to handle this situation because they value human lives," he added.

Mohamed further revealed that this was the second such incident in the county in just over a year, referencing a similar case at Marikiti.

He emphasised that the county government remains vigilant to ensure structural integrity in new constructions.

"This means we in the county are very keen to ensure that buildings under construction are stable. That is why engineers are here, investigations are ongoing, and we will wait for the findings," he explained.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the structural integrity of the building, with engineers on-site to determine the cause of the cracks.

Mohamed noted that the primary focus remained on securing lives before taking any enforcement actions.

"The first report we received was at night. The priority is not to arrest anyone but to save lives," he affirmed.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding construction safety as authorities continue monitoring the situation.

Other Topics To Read

• Collapsed Building
• mathare building collapse
• kenya building collapse
• building collapse
• building safety
• Nairobi buildings
• Mombasa residents evacuated as cracked building sparks collapse fears
• Uncategorized