5 Killed After Wall Collapses During Burial in Mombasa

Five people lost their lives in a freak accident on Monday, 2 December, after being struck by a collapsing perimeter wall in Miritini, Jomvu, Mombasa County.

The tragedy occurred around 2 pm when the wall gave way, crushing the victims as they sought shelter from the rain.

According to an official from the county emergency response department, the victims had attended a burial ceremony and were forced to take cover by the perimeter wall of a nearby factory due to the rain.

In a cruel twist of fate, the aging wall, weakened by the heavy downpours experienced in the county in recent weeks, collapsed on the mourners.

“The wall collapsed in its entirety. One of the deceased was completely crushed from the waist down. Others broke their bones and teeth,” one witness said.

A baby and three women were killed on the spot while another victim succumbed to injuries at the Makadara hospital. Others who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the same facility for treatment.

According to local residents, this is the second such incident, heightening concerns about the structural integrity of buildings in Mombasa.

Residents noted that one of the primary reasons for the collapse of the perimeter wall was its incomplete construction on one side, which left it structurally vulnerable.

The bodies of the deceased were transported to the Coast General Hospital mortuary for preservation, pending autopsy.

Incidentally, only three weeks ago, another incident in Mombasa County saw one person trapped after a building under construction came crumbling down in the Majengo area.

Confirming the incident, the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement that two people had been rescued while one person remained trapped under the rubble for more than an hour. No deaths were reported.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Department expects rainfall to continue in several parts of the country including the coast.