Thursday, May 5, 2016

Nairobi survivors freed from Nairobi rubble six days after collapse

Four people have been rescued from the ruins of a residential building in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, six days after it collapsed in heavy rains.
Kenya Red Cross says a woman who was first to be rescued on Thursday is now receiving hospital treatment.
Since her rescue, three other people have been pulled to safety.
Thirty-six people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of the six-storey residence last Friday and more than 70 people are still missing.
About 140 people are estimated to have survived the tragedy.

The commander in charge of the rescue effort, Pius Masai, said it was a miracle to find the survivors. He told the BBC his staff would continue to work round the clock until they were sure all survivors were accounted for.
 A woman is carried away in a stretcher by medics as she is rescued after being trapped for six days in the rubble of a collapsed building, in the Huruma area of Nairobi (05 April 2016)
Officials say the first person to be rescued on Thursday was weak but had no obvious signs of injury
A woman is carried away in a stretcher by medics as she is rescued after being trapped for six days in the rubble of a collapsed building, in the Huruma area of Nairobi (05 May 2016)The rescued woman was taken to hospital for treatment 
 
One of those rescued was 24-year-old Elizabeth Night Odhiambo, who was eight months pregnant, her husband Stephen Onyango told the AP news agency.
A crowd clapped and cheered when she was pulled out of the rubble and placed on a stretcher under a blanket and with her face covered with an oxygen mask, in a rescue scene broadcast live on Kenyan TV.
In hospital, Ms Odhiambo underwent an emergency Caesarean section, but doctors said her baby had died in the womb.
Her husband said that he was nevertheless happy that his wife was still alive.
"I cannot describe the happiness I have,'' the truck driver said in an telephone interview with AP. "I have never had such happiness like this in my life."
Mr Odhiambo said he had been able to talk to his with his wife after the surgery and comfort her.
Soldiers, firefighters and volunteers have been searching for survivors since the 29 April collapse of the building.
Trained dogs were brought in, along with special equipment to detect breathing and movement, military spokesman David Obonyo told AP.
Rescuers were able to keep Ms Odhiambo alive by breaking their way through slabs of concrete which were trapping her in a corner of the building. They managed to provide her with oxygen and an intravenous drip of water and glucose.
The building's presumed owners have been released on bail after being arrested on Monday.