At least seven primary school children have been reported dead and dozens more injured during a classroom collapse on Monday morning in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, a government spokesman said.
“So far we can confirm that we have seven fatalities and 57 others are in hospital,” government spokesman Cyrus Oguna said at the scene.
HSENations gathered that the incident at the two-storey Precious Talent Top School took place a few minutes after 7am local time on Monday.
Hundreds of angry residents of Dagoretti — a poor area where many live in makeshift houses — swarmed around the site where rescuers picked through the rubble of the classroom.
According to AFP, books and desks were strewn through the debris of the semi-permanent structure, made of concrete, iron sheeting and timber. The structure had been partly raised up to add a storey.
Red Cross Kenya said rescue efforts were ongoing amid reports that dozens were trapped in the collapsed building.
“There were students in the upper classes of the building when it collapsed,” Abwao said. “We are still searching to make sure all students have been rescued.”
Classroom with pupils inside collapses at a school along Ngong road, Nairobi.
Red Cross and @EMS_Kenya response teams are at the scene. Details to follow.
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) September 23, 2019