This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36174505

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Kenya flooding: Nairobi six-storey building collapses Kenya flooding: Search for building collapse victims
(about 7 hours later)
A six-storey building has collapsed in a residential area of the Kenyan capital Nairobi as heavy rain plays havoc across the country. Rescuers in the Kenyan capital Nairobi are searching for dozens of people feared trapped after the collapse of a six-storey building in heavy rain.
At least three people have died, KTN television reported, but others have been pulled from the rubble alive. TV coverage from the scene showed a crowd gathering at the Huruma residential estate as rescuers dug for survivors. At least three people are known to have died.
Rescue workers are digging through wreckage amid what the Red Cross called "chaotic scenes". It is not known how many people are trapped. The Red Cross criticised "chaotic scenes" as rescuers arrived.
The rainfall has caused landslides, washed away houses and flooded roads. It is unclear how many people are trapped beneath six floors of concrete.
The pictures showed rescuers lifting rubble with their bare hands. At one point the crowd erupted into cheers when a baby was pulled out alive. The rainfall in addition has caused landslides, washed away houses and flooded roads.
According to KTN, more than 50 people have been rescued so far. The Huruma neighbourhood is a poor district on the outskirts of Nairobi made up of narrow streets, meaning firefighters struggled to get to the scene and were delayed by large crowds.
There has been no independent confirmation of the death toll. After some time, the army took charge of the rescue - with the help of the Kenyan Red Cross.
In another county, two boys are missing after going herding, according to the Red Cross. "We can still hear voices of people who are still inside," Red Cross spokesman Venant Ndigila said.
Earlier on Friday at least three people were killed when a wall collapsed in an area of Nairobi, according to local media. "[So far] we [have] managed again to rescue at least 12 people - and there are signs that there are still some people who are still alive."
Residents said that the building shook violently in the rain before collapsing.
Poor building standards are a fact of life in Kenya, correspondents say. A survey carried out last year found that more than half the buildings in the capital were unfit for habitation.
The high demand for housing in Nairobi has led to some property developers bypassing building regulations to reduce costs and increase profits.
There has however been some good news for the rescuers who extracted a number of children from the wreckage throughout Friday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta last year ordered an audit of all the buildings in the country after a spate of collapses.President Uhuru Kenyatta last year ordered an audit of all the buildings in the country after a spate of collapses.
The same area of Nairobi saw another collapse early last year, with at least two people killed. Poor construction standards are frequently blamed for such incidents. Meanwhile two boys are missing in another part of the flood-hit country after going herding, according to the Red Cross.