However, NCA maintained that the project had all the requisite approvals and that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the actual cause of structural failure
The National Construction Authority (NCA) on Monday, November 11 revealed that possible soil saturation was to blame for the collapse of a storey building in Majengo Sega Area, Mvita Sub County of Mombasa County.
According to the Authority’s probe conducted after the collapse occurred, the soil saturation was caused by a soakage pit located near the collapsed building.
However, NCA maintained that the project had all the requisite approvals and that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the actual cause of structural failure, dismissing allegations that the collapse could have resulted from the failure to meet requisite statutory approvals.
Workers at a construction site. /ACMK.CO.KE
“Preliminary reports have confirmed that the project had the requisite statutory approvals. The report also indicates the possible cause of the collapse to be soil saturation from a nearby soakage pit,” the statement read in part.
“A detailed investigation will be conducted in the coming days to determine the actual cause of structural failure.”
A soakage pit, also known as a soakaway pit is a covered chamber with porous walls built to allow water to slowly seep into the ground. Advisably, soak pits should be between 1.5 metres to 4 metres deep.
NCA further detailed that the development, a proposed 17-floor residential building, was at the initial stages of construction.
The collapse occurred as the contractor was carrying out foundation works on one half of the site and excavation works for the second half of the site.Â
The Monday morning incident reportedly led to one fatality and four casualties, with those affected being construction workers who were undertaking the excavation at the time of the incident.
“Unfortunately, the collapse led to one fatality and four casualties, the affected being construction workers who were undertaking the excavation at the time of the incident. Rescue operations are now complete, and the site has been cordoned off,” added the statement.
“The developer on record is Three Start Towers Limited, and the contractor is Spearlead Construction Limited. The project consultants are Eng. Mwinyi Mwinyi Mwinyikombo, (registration number A3257) and Arch. Robert Mahali Sifa (registration number A1263).”
On Monday, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that a multi-agency team was deployed at the scene to aid in rescue operations. Two people were rescued immediately while one person remained trapped under the rubble.
Images seen by Viral Tea showed both walls of the building which had completely caved in with construction workers and other rescuers surrounding the structure in an attempt to retrieve those trapped in the rubble.
