— At least four people are feared dead following the collapse of a makeshift video café in Bamburi Mwisho on Sunday evening. The tragic incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. as dozens of football fans gathered to watch a live English Premier League match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton FC.Eyewitnesses reported that the floor of the Arsy Video Café gave way suddenly, sending patrons and equipment plunging into an old septic tank beneath the structure. “They were watching the game when the ground just gave in. Everything — the people and the TVs — fell inside,” said Nuru Sadati, a relative of one of the victims.Authorities revealed that the café had been constructed illegally atop a 40-year-old septic tank, which had significantly deteriorated and could no longer support the weight of the crowd. Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Noor confirmed that emergency response teams were quickly deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations and determine the exact number of people trapped.“This video café was unfortunately built on top of a septic tank that eventually collapsed. We are doing everything possible to rescue anyone still trapped,” Commissioner Noor stated.Rescue efforts are ongoing, with officers from the National Government Administration Office (NGAO), police units, and the Mombasa County Disaster Response Team leading the operation. The area has since been sealed off to ensure the safety of residents and to allow for unhindered rescue and investigation work.Local leaders have condemned the unsafe structure and called for heightened vigilance. Kadzandani MCA Fatma Kushe urged the community to cooperate with authorities to prevent similar tragedies in the future.This incident comes amid growing concerns over building safety in Mombasa, where recent structural collapses have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of construction laws. Authorities have pledged to intensify inspections and take firm action against unauthorized developments.Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing, with more details expected as rescue operations progress.
