Update! 4 injured, no fatalities reported in Rongo collapsed building

Four people have been treated for minor tissue injuries and discharged after a building collapsed in Rongo Town, Migori County, on Christmas Day.

One of the injured persons is a security guard at the site who escaped as the building trembled, while the three others were neighbours at the site.

According to the Senior Deputy County Commissioner of Rongo George Matundura, no fatalities have been reported.

Matundura said they confirmed that no construction workers were at the site at the time the building was collapsing.

"From the information we have gathered from the security lady who was manning the site, there were no workers at the site on Christmas Day," Matundura said.

He, however, said they can't rule out anything, and the teams from the Red Cross will set up a tent for two days at the site for individuals to report any missing persons.

"You never know, someone might have sneaked into the building before the collapse, so we are not taking chances, though the four victims are well and have been treated.".

According to Migori Chief Officer in Charge of Medical Services Samuel Atula, the emergency response was swift as the distress call was received by the emergency response centre alerting the authorities of the collapse. 

He said immediately teams from the disaster management unit, public works, and health services were quickly mobilised, and by 3 pm they had arrived at the site along with the Red Cross personnel and security team who were also present.

Upon assessment, it became clear that additional equipment would be necessary for the rescue operation. Two excavators and a front loader were deployed to assist in the efforts.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation. 

"We can't confirm the exact cause of the collapse at this moment, but we are committed to ensuring the matter is looked into and action taken in case of any negligence. 

The rescue teams continued working throughout the night, ensuring that all areas were searched and all safety measures were in place.

"We stand in solidarity with those affected by the incident. Every life is important, and we are putting all our resources into ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone involved.".