Eastleigh building collapse: Family clings to hope as missing woman's phone reachable

Nine days after the collapse of an 18-storey building in Eastleigh, families of the 16 people still missing are holding on to hope that their loved ones may be found alive.

The family of 22-year-old Aurelia Wanjiku says her phone, which had remained unreachable for eight days, suddenly became reachable on Saturday morning.

However, although someone answered their calls, the person on the other end did not speak to them, raising hopes that she could still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Families at the scene say their hopes now rest on rescue teams working to clear the debris and reach those believed to be trapped.

Jude Rose Wanjiru, Aurelia Wanjiku's mother, has known no peace since the collapse of the 18-storey building forced her to leave her home in Kangema, Murang'a County, in search of her daughter.

At Ninth Street in Eastleigh, Wanjiru watched keenly as excavators scooped through the debris, hoping that the heavy machinery would finally reach her daughter. She says her heart will only be at peace once Aurelia is found.

"Hata nilikuwa nimeshindwa kukula nikishindwa huyu mtoto nitampata akiwa hai, na kama jana tulitolewa matokeo kuna mama alitolewa akiwa amekatwa mara mbili na wale wa familia walienda mortuary hawakumfahamu," said Wanjiru.

After eight days of hope slowly fading, Wanjiru received some encouraging news on Saturday morning.

Aurelia's sister attempted to call Wanjiku's phone. To their surprise, the phone was reachable, and someone answered the call. However, the person on the other end did not share much information.

"Hii laini ya Safaricom haikuwa ikifanya lakini leo hii tukajaribu hii line yake ya Airtel to Airtel, nikapiga simu ikaingia na vile ikaingia, yani kama kwenye ako hatuski lakini mimi naskia," she said.

The family immediately shared the information with government officials overseeing the search and rescue operation. The details were later forwarded to detectives, who are working to trace the number, establish its location and deploy specialised equipment in an attempt to reach her.

Meanwhile, other families gathered at the scene have expressed concern over what they describe as delays in the search and rescue operation. They have appealed to the teams involved to expedite the exercise and find their loved ones.

"Wale Chinese vile walikuja walisema wameweza ku-detect watu wako, so sisi tukajua vile wame-detect hiyo machine wataweza kuwafikia. Baada ya siku mbili wakasema hizo motion zimesonga hawajawapata,' said a victim Robai Windo.

Another victim, Junior Richard, said, "Kutoka Friday tulikuwa hapa. Brother yangu alibaki kule ndani. Siwezi enda nyumbani mpaka nimwone, unless ile siku ataonekana. Saa hii siwezi kwenda nyumbani kabla sijamwona."

The search and rescue team says debris removal is now 90 per cent complete, with the remaining 10 per cent forming the focus of ongoing operations.

The team believes the 16 people still missing could be trapped in one corner of the collapsed building.

Despite the challenges, rescuers remain hopeful of finding survivors and have expressed optimism that the operation could be completed by Sunday.