Miracle in Nairobi: Baby rescued from rubble 80 hrs after building collapses (PHOTOS)
Baby Dealeryn Saisi Wasike is recovering from an experience she’ll probably never remember after being rescued Tuesday from the rubble of a building - 80 hours after it collapsed.
The six-story building, which had been marked for demolition since 2014, came crumbling down in the residential estate of Huruma in northeast Nairobi, Kenya Friday and killed 23 people.
Rescue workers defied the odds and found little Dealeryn around 4 a.m. Tuesday wrapped in a blanket in a bucket.
The Kenya Red Cross Society announced the baby’s discovery via Twitter using the hashtag #HurumaCollapse and later described her as dehydrated in a press release, but “with no visible physical injuries.”
Good news! A child aged about one and half years rescued alive at 0400 hours and referred to Kenyatta National Hospital. #HurumaCollapse
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) May 3, 2016
Dealeryn’s father was able to identify the child after she was brought to the Kenyatta National hospital for treatment. Sadly, it’s understood her mother has not yet been found.
Rescue operations continue at the scene, according to the local website Kenyans.
Live pictures from the scene. #HurumaTragedy KRCS with partners trying their level best to assist. pic.twitter.com/UmDVoxTVaZ
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 30, 2016
#HurumaCollapse Father of the rescued child alongside KRCS Gorvernor addresses the media @ Starehe CDF Hall, Huruma pic.twitter.com/41lLaAXR75
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) May 3, 2016
Local officials had yet to knock down the building despite the two-year-old demolition order and after heavy rains, the building collapsed with occupants still living in it, Reuters reported.
Nearly 1,000 households were wiped out in the tragedy with 136 residents rescued and another 100 still missing.
Excavator starting to remove the rubble. #HurumaTragedypic.twitter.com/6Vuqgp9Ttm
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 30, 2016
Back side of the collapsed building. #HurumaCollapsepic.twitter.com/CCldqrWEB4
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 30, 2016
While police continue to question the building’s owner, who is understood to own four other buildings in the area, questions are being raised as to how the “substandard” structure was ever given the go-ahead by local building authorities.
Who should we blame when a building which was marked for demolition by the Government collapsed and killed citizens?#HurumaCollapse
— Joseph O. Agwambo (@JosephO87080521) May 3, 2016
#HurumaCollapse: It is not enough to arrest building owners (read window dressing). County govt also to blame for 'approving' structures.
— Francis Hook (@FrancisHookDF) May 3, 2016
Arrest the owner, the architect & the civil engineer and the City Hall official who approved & charge them with murder #HurumaCollapse
— Donald B Kipkorir (@DBK017) May 1, 2016
Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta visited the site on Saturday and called for other buildings in the district to be surveyed to ensure safety standards are being met.
The #HurumaTragedy is proof that @county_nairobi is full of Ghost workers who only harass hawkers and collect bribes @Kiss100Kenya#KISS
— Shaffie Weru (@ShaffieWeru) May 2, 2016
#HurumaTragedy their only mistake was paying rent. #ItsUpToKenyansTo demand for accountability. Stepping aside just wont cut it anymore
— Larry Asego (@LarryAsego) May 3, 2016
During a visit to the site by opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Moses Wetangula on Tuesday afternoon, police fired tear gas into a large crowd after some reportedly “turned rowdy”.
MORE: Teargas. #HurumaTragedypic.twitter.com/zUfGqewHnz
— Mac Otani (@MacOtani) May 3, 2016
Teargas #HurumaTragedy scene , Politics with tragedy and deaths! @Ma3Route@KenyanTrafficpic.twitter.com/FX7mtwy67e
— MCGW (@MombasaCGW) May 3, 2016
People were injured in a stampede when “forced to scamper” to safety, according to social media users in the area, with some condemning the use of the gas.
Few have sustained injuries after a stampede #HurumaTragedy .we have taken one to hospital @Ma3Route@OneFMKepic.twitter.com/3p47BrhDtZ
— Rd safety volunteers (@roadsvolunteer) May 3, 2016
Raila entourage tear-gassed at #HurumaTragedy scene. Its immoral 2 tear gas #Huruma people who are already crying from lost lives & property
— TomKE (@ogolat) May 3, 2016
I deeply condemn the police act of tear-gassing innocent Kenyans #HurumaTragedy God forgive us @RailaOdinga@Wetangulam@UKenyatta
— kenny jameson (@kenny_jameson) May 3, 2016
So some fella thinks tear gas is good for potential #HurumaTragedy survivors suffocating under tonnes of ballast & rocks #think@RobertAlai
— TomKE (@ogolat) May 3, 2016
@RailaOdinga teargased #HurumaTragedy I think the state has lost focus or Raila stepped on police lane? That's unexpected from @PoliceKE
— Rutoh Kipla Walters (@KiplaWalters) May 3, 2016
