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Death toll from building collapse in Kenya rises to 16

Xinhua, May 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

The death toll from a building which collapsed in Kenyan capital Nairobi on Friday night, due to heavy rains rose to 16 on Sunday.

According to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), some 135 people have been rescued from the six-story residential building while 73 others are still missing.

"KRCS activated response teams to support the search and rescue operations, first aid, evacuations, tracing of missing persons and provision of psychosocial support teams to the affected community," KRCS which has so far reached a total of over 737 people said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

According to rescuers, two floors sank into the ground and people are still feared trapped inside the building.

KRCS said it has mobilized partner support to provide heavy machinery resources and to participate in search and rescue.

Currently, the humanitarian agency is working with National Youth Service (NYS), and the military, which have deployed machinery to support the operation.

The building, according to residents, was built on a waterway, blocking the passage of water which could have weakened its structure.

There has been a heavy downpour in Nairobi for the last two days, with rain intensity rising Friday afternoon.

Many roads and suburbs in the capital were flooded due to the heavy rains leading to traffic jams that left many commuters stranded in the city centre.

According to the weather forecast, the rain would continue in the coming weeks. Endit