Tragedy struck in Miritini, Jomvu, Mombasa County, on Monday when a perimeter wall collapsed, killing five people.
The victims, who had attended a burial ceremony, sought shelter from a heavy downpour against a wall surrounding the Kusco Company factory, located in the area.
According to Ibrahim Basafar, an official from the county’s emergency response department, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Police reports confirmed that the five fatalities included four women and one man.
Three other women were injured in the incident and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The collapse of the wall, which was aged and weakened by the intense rainfall, was reported by Chief Binti Saidi Mwangolo.
Authorities were notified shortly after the incident, and a team from Maganda Police Station, DCI Jomvu, and Aps Jomvu swiftly responded to the scene.
The rescue team found that the structure of the wall had been compromised due to the heavy rains that had been pounding the area throughout the day.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the wall, which was in poor condition, may not have been properly maintained.
The surrounding area had been slippery and unsafe due to the rain, and many mourners had taken refuge against the structure, unaware of the potential danger.
The bodies of the deceased were transported to Coast General Hospital mortuary for preservation, pending autopsies.
The three women who sustained injuries were treated for various degrees of trauma, and their conditions are reported to be stable.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the wall’s collapse, and whether there were any violations in the safety regulations regarding the structure’s maintenance.
The collapse of the wall has raised concerns about the state of old structures in the area, especially during the ongoing rainy season.
Local officials have urged factory owners and the community to ensure the safety of such structures to prevent further tragedies.
