Panic gripped Mombasa residents near Coast General Hospital after large cracks appeared in an 11-storey residential building, raising concerns of an imminent collapse. Following weeks of heavy rainfall, authorities ordered an immediate evacuation to prevent potential casualties.
Authorities Order Evacuation Amid Structural Concerns
🏗️ Building developed cracks, basement caved in
⚠️ Structure was constructed without proper safety guidelines
🚨 Mombasa County & national security teams enforced evacuation
🏥 Nearby Coast General Hospital at risk
Officials Confirm Building Was Structurally Unsound
Mombasa County Fire and Disaster Chief Officer Ibrahim Basafar confirmed that the building’s basement had caved in, causing it to tilt dangerously.
“One floor has already collapsed, including the basement. The building is visibly slanted, and its dimensions were not properly adhered to,” Basafar stated.
Eyewitnesses reported that the structure was still under construction despite already being occupied by tenants.
Frequent Building Collapses in Mombasa Raise Safety Concerns
This latest incident is part of an ongoing trend of building collapses in Mombasa County, often linked to poor construction practices and lack of regulation enforcement.
🏚️ November 11, 2024: A building under construction in Majengo collapsed, trapping one person.
⚰️ December 2, 2024: Five people died in Miritini, Jomvu, after a perimeter wall collapsed while they sought shelter from the rain.
What’s Next?
As of now, Mombasa County Government and the national government have not issued an official update on the fate of the building. Authorities are urging strict enforcement of construction standards to prevent future disasters.
