Two workers die, one other critically injured as water tank collapse

File photo of a steel water storage tank

Two workers died in Juja on Wednesday September 24th, after a water tank they were repairing collapsed, trapping them beneath the debris. A third worker is in critical condition and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Thika.

The tragic incident happened in the afternoon hours at the Pulp and Paper Company, where five employees had been assigned to repair the elevated tank. The structure, built from iron sheets and mounted on concrete pillars, gave way during the repairs, crashing down on the unsuspecting workers.

According to preliminary reports, the collapse was triggered by weakened concrete pillars that failed to withstand the tank’s weight. Witnesses say the tank caved in suddenly, leaving three of the workers trapped inside.

Rescue efforts managed to pull out one survivor, who was rushed to hospital in critical condition. The other two workers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have since launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the collapse and to determine whether safety standards at the site were observed.

The incident has raised concerns about workplace safety and the structural integrity of aging infrastructure within industrial facilities.