Two rescued, one still trapped in Bungoma’s collapsed building

Two people were rescued and rushed to hospital for immediate medication, after a building collapsed in Kanduyi, Bungoma.

One person was still trapped in the building.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Western regional commissioner, Irungu Macharia, confirmed that two people have been rescued and taken to hospital for immediate medical attention while one was still trapped in the collapsed building.

“Officials from the Kenya Red Cross, KPLC and the police are currently on the site trying to rescue those trapped inside a building,” the commissioner noted.

Initially, Irungu admitted that the building was to be demolished to pave the way for the expansion of the Masinde Muliro Stadium which will be used for this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations.

Additionally, the regional commissioner reported that the police were deployed at the demolition site to ensure residents stayed away from the site.

“The government has had plans to demolish this building, we spent some days to ensure that this building is completely brought down,” he said, adding that people have been using the site for shelter.

He added that some were also harvesting steel for commercial purposes.

“We have also spotted one person whom we are trying all our best to ensure that we rescue him, the two who were rescued are currently hospitalized for medication,” he said.

Macharia, however, admitted that they weren’t sure of how many people were trapped inside the collapsed building.

“The Red Cross officers have interviewed residents to get exact data of the people who are trapped but they haven’t received clear information, therefore we aren’t sure of how many people are inside there,” he said.

The regional commissioner warned residents nearing the collapsed building saying that it is still exposing danger to the public.

Macharia also ordered the completion of the half-demolished building as soon as possible.

Also present were Bungoma County police commander Francis Kooli, and Bungoma South OCS David Odongo among others.

The incident happened barely a week after another building collapsed in Uthiru on Tuesday.