Update: 5-storey building collapses in Ruiru, hours after evacuation

RUIRU (Kenya)— A five-storey building that had developed cracks at Ruiru town, in Kiambu County has collapsed shortly after it was evacuated.

The building divided into commercial and residential parts and located right opposite the Ruiru police station came down in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Fortunately, more than 100 tenants who had occupied the houses and residents in the nearby buildings had already been evacuated in an emergency operation that was supervised by Governor Kimani Wamatangi.

A temple next to the building was partly damaged.

The ill-fated building had been condemned by authorities for substandard work.

Forensic investigations are ongoing.

This is the third such incident in a week despite warnings by construction authorities and a crackdown on non-compliance buildings to curb an increase in the number of buildings collapsing.

Kiambu county government has vowed to close down or demolish houses that are deemed unfit for habitation based on expert assessment

Last week two buildings collapsed in Ruaka and Kasarani killing four people.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK