Four Killed in Mombasa After Septic Tank Collapses Under Packed Football Hall
A devastating incident unfolded in Bamburi Mwisho, Mombasa County, on the evening of Sunday, April 20, when a septic tank caved in beneath a crowded hall used for football screenings, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals.
The makeshift structure, located in the Nyali Constituency, was being used as a local gathering point where fans congregated to watch live football matches and films. The tragedy struck without warning when the floor of the hall collapsed, plunging the occupants into the septic tank below.
Septic Collapse Raises Questions About Safety Standards
Mombasa County Commissioner Mahmoud Noor confirmed the incident and noted that the victims were inside the hall at the time of the collapse. "They were watching a match when the floor gave way. Unfortunately, they were trapped inside the septic tank," he stated.
Eyewitnesses, including relatives of the victims, recounted the chaos and desperation as onlookers tried to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble. A relative painfully explained how their loved one vanished in seconds, with the hall floor giving way beneath him.
In the aftermath, emergency teams from Mombasa County, including police and disaster response units, swiftly arrived at the site to initiate search and rescue efforts. The scale of the collapse has made the rescue operation challenging, as officials race against time to retrieve bodies and possibly locate survivors.
Community Demands Accountability
Outrage has gripped the Bamburi community, with many questioning how such a hall was allowed to operate directly above a septic tank. Residents have called on the county government to disclose how the establishment was approved and whether building codes were adhered to.
“The community is angry, and rightfully so,” a local leader stated. “This isn’t just an accident—it’s a sign of systemic failure in building oversight.”
The Mombasa County Government has yet to release a formal statement regarding the construction approvals or provide a detailed update on the ongoing rescue mission.
Building Safety in the Spotlight
This tragic event follows recent concerns about construction safety across Mombasa. Earlier in the month, panic spread near Coast General Hospital when structural cracks appeared in an 11-storey residential building after persistent heavy rains. Authorities later confirmed the structure was unauthorized and ordered its controlled demolition on April 11, carried out by the Kenya Defence Forces.
The back-to-back incidents are prompting urgent calls for rigorous enforcement of construction standards and regular building inspections to avert further tragedies.
As rescue teams continue their operations in Bamburi, the community mourns the lives lost and anxiously awaits answers on how such a disaster could occur at the heart of a local entertainment hub.
