UPDATE - Kenya building collapse leaves 7 dead

UPDATES DEATH TOLL AND NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAPPED, ADDS DETAILS ABOUT RESCUE OPERATION

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - A five-story building collapsed on Wednesday in Kenya’s southwestern Kisii county, killing at least seven people and burying around 50 people in the rubble, an emergency official said.

Pius Maasai, an official of the National Disaster Management Unit, said 26 people had been rescued so far while an estimated 25 more remained trapped under the debris.

He added that the Kenyan military had been called in to assist the rescue workers, and rescue efforts would continue throughout the night.

Joan Nyanchama, an eye witness told Anadolu Agency: "I heard a loud noise which lasted for 10 seconds. The earth trembled. I went out and saw the under-construction building had collapsed.”

Earlier this year, a seven-story building in the same area collapsed killing nine people.