Kenya - Building Collapse
|
| Map of Kenya |
Regional Team: ECA
Disaster Declared: 01/24/2006
Brief Description: On January 23, 2006, a four-story building under construction in central Nairobi collapsed, killing at least 10 people and seriously injuring 77 others, according to the Government of Kenya (GOK). Rescue workers from the GOK and the Kenyan Cross immediately began operations to rescue an unknown number of people trapped in the rubble; however, a lack of collapsed structure rescue equipment and emergency supplies reportedly hampered the relief effort. Responding quickly to the GOK's request for international assistance, a 16-member team from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa’s (CJTF-HOA) U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabees) arrived from Djibouti on the morning of January 24 to provide technical support to the rescue teams. The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi procured a donation of excavation equipment, supplied drinking water and light equipment, and provided management and medical officers to coordinate the ongoing effort.
On January 24, 2006, U.S. Ambassador William M. Bellamy declared a disaster due to the effects of the building collapse. The U.S. Embassy also convened an emergency task force to support rescue and recovery efforts. In response to the emergency, OFDA provided $17,500 to the GOK for the procurement of emergency relief supplies.
Back to Top ^
|
