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, Nairobi, the family of 22-year-old Aurelia Wanjiku is holding on to hope after her phone suddenly became reachable following eight days of being offline.

Aurelia’s family received the unexpected development on Saturday morning when her sister attempted to call her Airtel number.

To their surprise, someone answered the call but remained silent, raising hopes that the phone could be somewhere beneath the rubble.

Her mother, Jude Rose Wanjiru, travelled from Kangema, Murang’a County, to Eastleigh following the collapse and has remained at the scene, watching rescue teams clear the debris in search of her daughter.

Wanjiru said the uncertainty had left her struggling to eat and rest, adding that she would only find peace once Aurelia was found.

The family immediately shared the phone development with government officials overseeing the rescue operation.

Detectives are reportedly working to trace the number, establish its location and determine whether specialised equipment can help locate the missing woman.

Meanwhile, other families at the scene have raised concerns over the progress of the rescue operation, appealing to authorities to speed up efforts to locate their missing relatives.

One relative, Junior Richard, said he had remained at the scene because his brother was still believed to be trapped inside the building.

The rescue team has reported that approximately 90 per cent of the debris has been cleared, with the remaining section forming the focus of ongoing operations.

Sixteen people remain missing, with rescuers believing they could be trapped in one section of the collapsed structure.

Despite the challenges, the rescue teams remain hopeful of locating survivors, with the operation expected to reach completion by Sunday.

For Aurelia’s family and others waiting at the scene, every new development offers a renewed possibility of reuniting with their loved ones.