Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NAIROBI342
2006-01-25 12:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
UPDATE: NAIROBI BUILDING COLLAPSE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNR #0342/01 0251253 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 251253Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9156 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 8152 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 4427 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 3934 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 1093 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1845 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1828 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ-3E/CCJ5// PRIORITY RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000342
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SAID FOR DCHA FOR WGARVELINK; USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA,
GGOTTLIEB MMARTY, IMCNAIRN; USAID FOR AFR/EA, JBORNS;
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID MASS PREL AMGT ASEC KE
SUBJECT: UPDATE: NAIROBI BUILDING COLLAPSE
REF: A. NAIROBI 327
B. NAIROBI 326
UNCLAS NAIROBI 000342
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SAID FOR DCHA FOR WGARVELINK; USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA,
GGOTTLIEB MMARTY, IMCNAIRN; USAID FOR AFR/EA, JBORNS;
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID MASS PREL AMGT ASEC KE
SUBJECT: UPDATE: NAIROBI BUILDING COLLAPSE
REF: A. NAIROBI 327
B. NAIROBI 326
1. SUMMARY: Rescue efforts at the scene of the collapsed
multi-story building in central Nairobi continue, with 14
confirmed deaths, 107 injured, and an unknown number missing.
While the government announced there is little hope of
finding more survivors, and that the Israeli rescue team will
conclude its mission January 26, Post continued to support
the effort with personnel and equipment and plans to do so
for at least another day. Amid allegations of impropriety in
the construction approval process for the collapsed building,
the government suspended four Nairobi City Council members
pending investigation. END SUMMARY.
MORE DEATHS, SURVIVORS UNLIKELY
--------------
2. Confirming the number of deaths, Kenyan Government
Spokesman Alfred Mutua acknowledged that, as of mid-day
January 25, there was scarce hope of finding more survivors,
although approximately 48 hours after the building collapsed,
the government has not redesignated the rescue mission as a
recovery effort. With the number of injured and rescued
reported at 107, 39 of whom remain in the hospital, the
number of missing remained unclear. The last reported
survivor to be removed from the debris was during the day on
January 24. Mutua noted that voices of survivors heard on
January 24 morning had faded. Reports praised the Israeli
military search and rescue team's ability to establish
control over the site upon their arrival on January 24. This
was in contrast to criticism of the Kenyan emergency
response, which a Nation editorial decried as "shameful,"
adding that needless deaths may have occurred because the
official reaction was neither prompt nor efficient. Visiting
the site on January 24, President Kibaki pledged to procure a
supply of rescue equipment for the country.
ISRAELI-LED MISSION RUNNING SMOOTHLY
--------------
3. Post continued to provide support to the Israeli-led
rescue effort, although the government of Kenya did not make
any further specific requests for assistance. With mission
members on-site overnight, the United States facilitated
round-the-clock work through the use of Post generators and
lights. In addition, U.S. Navy Seabees are working with
Kenyan and Israeli personnel removing rubble. Along with the
equipment and supplies already delivered (Ref A),Post
provided 20 oxygen tanks to Kenyatta Hospital on January 25.
Post obtained USD 15,000 in funding from USAID's Office of
Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).
4. Interagency and international, Post's disaster response
was widely acknowledged in the Kenyan media and by officials
during the Ambassador's January 25 visit to the disaster
site. The Ambassador will return to the location for a
remembrance ceremony January 26, which will also mark the
beginning of the phase-out of the Israeli search and rescue
mission. In addition to the 16 U.S. Seabees, Post will keep
staff-members on-site, working closely with Kenyan, Israeli,
and British teams, at least until January noon 26.
GOVERNMENT VOWS TO CRACK DOWN
--------------
5. Following reports that there had earlier been warnings,
including articles in the press weeks ago, that the building
was likely to collapse from shoddy construction, Local
Government Minister Musikari Kombo announced January 24 that
he had suspended four members of the Nairobi City Council.
He ordered an investigation into alleged impropriety in the
authorization of the collapsed building's construction.
Kombo added that he would initiate legislation to regulate
building and ensure the structural integrity of future
construction.
6. In his January 25 statement, Spokesman Mutua announced
the establishment of an interministerial team to investigate
other buildings in the city that may also be vulnerable.
Mutua also noted that although the entire structure had not
folded on January 23, the remaining portion would be
demolished, at the owner's expense, as would the building
under construction next door. He was earlier quoted as
having confirmed that inadequate building materials and poor
construction technique caused the disastrous accident.
BELLAMY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SAID FOR DCHA FOR WGARVELINK; USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA,
GGOTTLIEB MMARTY, IMCNAIRN; USAID FOR AFR/EA, JBORNS;
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID MASS PREL AMGT ASEC KE
SUBJECT: UPDATE: NAIROBI BUILDING COLLAPSE
REF: A. NAIROBI 327
B. NAIROBI 326
1. SUMMARY: Rescue efforts at the scene of the collapsed
multi-story building in central Nairobi continue, with 14
confirmed deaths, 107 injured, and an unknown number missing.
While the government announced there is little hope of
finding more survivors, and that the Israeli rescue team will
conclude its mission January 26, Post continued to support
the effort with personnel and equipment and plans to do so
for at least another day. Amid allegations of impropriety in
the construction approval process for the collapsed building,
the government suspended four Nairobi City Council members
pending investigation. END SUMMARY.
MORE DEATHS, SURVIVORS UNLIKELY
--------------
2. Confirming the number of deaths, Kenyan Government
Spokesman Alfred Mutua acknowledged that, as of mid-day
January 25, there was scarce hope of finding more survivors,
although approximately 48 hours after the building collapsed,
the government has not redesignated the rescue mission as a
recovery effort. With the number of injured and rescued
reported at 107, 39 of whom remain in the hospital, the
number of missing remained unclear. The last reported
survivor to be removed from the debris was during the day on
January 24. Mutua noted that voices of survivors heard on
January 24 morning had faded. Reports praised the Israeli
military search and rescue team's ability to establish
control over the site upon their arrival on January 24. This
was in contrast to criticism of the Kenyan emergency
response, which a Nation editorial decried as "shameful,"
adding that needless deaths may have occurred because the
official reaction was neither prompt nor efficient. Visiting
the site on January 24, President Kibaki pledged to procure a
supply of rescue equipment for the country.
ISRAELI-LED MISSION RUNNING SMOOTHLY
--------------
3. Post continued to provide support to the Israeli-led
rescue effort, although the government of Kenya did not make
any further specific requests for assistance. With mission
members on-site overnight, the United States facilitated
round-the-clock work through the use of Post generators and
lights. In addition, U.S. Navy Seabees are working with
Kenyan and Israeli personnel removing rubble. Along with the
equipment and supplies already delivered (Ref A),Post
provided 20 oxygen tanks to Kenyatta Hospital on January 25.
Post obtained USD 15,000 in funding from USAID's Office of
Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).
4. Interagency and international, Post's disaster response
was widely acknowledged in the Kenyan media and by officials
during the Ambassador's January 25 visit to the disaster
site. The Ambassador will return to the location for a
remembrance ceremony January 26, which will also mark the
beginning of the phase-out of the Israeli search and rescue
mission. In addition to the 16 U.S. Seabees, Post will keep
staff-members on-site, working closely with Kenyan, Israeli,
and British teams, at least until January noon 26.
GOVERNMENT VOWS TO CRACK DOWN
--------------
5. Following reports that there had earlier been warnings,
including articles in the press weeks ago, that the building
was likely to collapse from shoddy construction, Local
Government Minister Musikari Kombo announced January 24 that
he had suspended four members of the Nairobi City Council.
He ordered an investigation into alleged impropriety in the
authorization of the collapsed building's construction.
Kombo added that he would initiate legislation to regulate
building and ensure the structural integrity of future
construction.
6. In his January 25 statement, Spokesman Mutua announced
the establishment of an interministerial team to investigate
other buildings in the city that may also be vulnerable.
Mutua also noted that although the entire structure had not
folded on January 23, the remaining portion would be
demolished, at the owner's expense, as would the building
under construction next door. He was earlier quoted as
having confirmed that inadequate building materials and poor
construction technique caused the disastrous accident.
BELLAMY