Several people were trapped after a four-storey building collapsed at the Infinity area of Mwiki Estate in Nairobi county.

St Johns Ambulance stated that the building collapsed on the evening of Wednesday, August 10.

St Johns Ambulance added that it had deployed its personnel to help with the rescue operations.”The building collapsed on Wednesday evening. We have already deployed our team to help in the rescue operation,” they stated.

“The cause of the accident is not yet known, but the police have also been informed to help secure the scene,” St Johns Ambulance said.

According to preliminary reports from police, several people were trapped even as rescue efforts were underway.

By the time of publication, the number of people trapped in the collapsed building was not established.

According to an eyewitness, the owner of the building was carrying out renovations, including making excavations on one side of the building.

Holes drilled on the building to expand the windows, plus the excavation weakened the building triggering the collapse.

“The owner was carrying out renovations including digging a trench which weakened the building’s foundation forcing it to collapse trapping several people,” he stated.

By the time of going to press, the National Construction Authority (NCA) had not corroborated the reports on the cause of the accident.