Race Against Time as Building Collapses in Kisumu, Rescue Teams Search for Survivors

Rescue teams comb through rubble after a six-storey building collapsed in Kisumu, as frantic efforts continue to find survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Article by: Babz Abdul-Raheem.
Date: may 12,2026.

 A major rescue operation is underway in Kisumu after a six-storey building collapsed in the Tom Mboya area, trapping unknown numbers of people beneath the rubble and sending shock across the lakeside city.

The building came down suddenly, drawing crowds of worried residents as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Rescue personnel, including firefighters, police officers and county disaster teams, immediately launched a search through the debris in a desperate effort to reach anyone trapped inside.

Reports indicate that at least one person was rescued alive shortly after the collapse and taken to hospital, while fears remain that others could still be buried under the wreckage. Heavy machinery has been deployed to assist in clearing the debris as rescue efforts continue.

Authorities have cordoned off the area to allow operations to proceed safely, while engineers and county officials begin investigations into what may have caused the building to fail. Questions are already emerging over whether the structure met construction and safety standards.

The collapse has sparked fresh concern among residents over the rising number of unsafe buildings in urban areas, with many calling for stricter inspections and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

As the search continues, anxious families and neighbor's remain gathered at the site, hoping for good news as rescuers work against time.