The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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The body of a man who had been trapped in a condemned building in Mombasa has been recovered.
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The structure, which collapsed last Wednesday during a controlled demolition by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), had been declared unsafe.
According to his family, the man had been missing for over 10 days after reportedly being trapped when the building’s first floor gave way. He had entered the building just minutes before part of it collapsed.
Prior to the demolition, authorities worked tirelessly on Tuesday to evacuate the nearby Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. The building in question, located on Plot No. XLVI/195/MI off Abdel Nasser Road, was considered a threat due to its unstable foundation.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir emphasized the importance of public safety, ordering a mandatory evacuation within a 1.2-kilometer radius of the site. “This is a life-saving operation. We cannot and will not compromise on the safety of our people,” he stated.
A Multi-Agency Team—including officials from the County’s Lands, Urban Planning and Housing Department, the National Building Inspectorate, the National Construction Authority, the KDF, and other state bodies—conducted a structural assessment and confirmed the building was severely compromised.
As a precaution, 289 patients from the hospital, including those in critical condition, were transferred to Port Reitz and Utange hospitals by the Kenya Red Cross, county ambulances, and the Kenya Navy.
Key roads including Digo Road, Hospital Road, Jomo Kenyatta Road, Mwembe Tayari, and Kava Shibu Road were all within the designated evacuation zone. Residents and traders in these areas were required to vacate by 2pm on the day of demolition.
Security was tightened with the KDF securing the inner cordon and National Police, along with County Inspectorate officers, managing the outer perimeter. Nyali Bridge was temporarily closed for an hour as a safety measure, and the public was advised to adjust travel plans accordingly.
The county also engaged local leaders and Community Health Promoters to carry out door-to-door awareness campaigns to ensure compliance. Port Reitz Hospital was designated as the main emergency response center for the operation.
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