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Search on for man who dashed into collapsing building to switch off lights


Rescuers at the collapsed building in Kware, Embakasi, are looking for a man who rushed to the house to switch off lights moments before it collapsed.

The man pulled the daring stunt after other tenants had been safely evacuated from the building following warnings that it was about to collapse.

According to the deputy director of disaster management Pius Masai, they have so far pulled out three survivors and one body from the rubble.

“One body of male child was retrieved from the debris last night. Fortunately a total of three persons –  female adult,  female child and male child were – rescued alive from debris,” said  Mr Masai.

Mr Masai said they have closed the search of seven tenants who were reported missing and have since been traced.

“We had families who had reported seven family members as missing but they were traced closing that case. But now we have a new case of a man who want back to switch off the light,” said Mr Masai on Wednesday.

RISKS COLLAPSING

Mr Masai said that limited space was slowing the job since the house is surrounded by a smaller building and another seven storey building which is tilted and risks collapsing.

He said they have ordered the evacuation of tenants in the small buildings and paperwork ongoing to evacuate those on the flat.

Mr Masai said that opportunist have been taking advantage of the disaster and giving false information to rescuers.

“Someone came from Muranga saying that someone was calling from seventh floor. The Kenya Defence Forces rescue team risked their lives and entered the building but we found out it was a lie,” said Mr Masai.

He added that thieves and criminals have been a major challenge to the operation. For instance on Tuesday, National Youth Service personnel at the site were attacked.