A tragic incident has shaken the Bamburi Mwisho area in Mombasa, where the body of 54-year-old Abdiaziz Abdallah was recovered from a collapsed septic tank early Tuesday morning. The Mombasa County disaster response team confirmed that Abdallah’s body was found 60 feet below the surface after extensive excavation efforts.
Abdallah lived adjacent to a video café that had been built on top of the septic tank. On Sunday, the café’s floor caved in, prompting an immediate response from county emergency services. The building, which was operating without a valid permit, was identified as an unauthorized structure that had been erected directly over a septic tank approximately 120 feet deep.
The recovery operation was led by the county’s chief fire officer, who detailed the difficult conditions encountered by the response team. The body was retrieved at 12:39 am after several hours of digging through debris. “We dug another 20 feet from where we found the body, taking about one hour and 30 minutes,” he said. “We dug until we reached dry soil, and that is when we concluded there was no other body.”
Authorities emphasized that it was unlikely for a second victim to have gone unnoticed, stating that it is improbable for two individuals to fall into the same spot without both being found. Following the retrieval, the body was cleaned and positively identified by family members. It has since been handed over to the police.
Access to the septic tank posed one of the greatest challenges to the recovery operation. To reach the site, county officials were forced to demolish part of a local bar that had been in operation for over 30 years. This action underscored the ongoing issue of unregulated constructions that obstruct emergency responses and threaten public safety.
The county has now handed over the site to the infrastructure and public works department, which is tasked with securing and restoring the area. Plans include sealing off the septic tank and ensuring that the space is rendered safe for future use.
Officials took the opportunity to urge the public to adhere strictly to construction laws and land use regulations. Citing the Land Use and Physical Planning Act, which mandates a minimum of eight feet of space for access, and the Land Titles Act, which prohibits building on 100 percent of a property, they warned that flouting these laws could have deadly consequences.
The fire chief expressed frustration with the increasing frequency of recovery missions, stressing that rescue operations are preferable. “We don’t like recovery work. We prefer rescue operations where lives can be saved,” he said. “But if people make rescue operations nearly impossible by building illegally, then it’s a sad situation.”
This disaster comes on the heels of another structural issue in the county, where a dangerously leaning building had to be demolished. County authorities have reiterated their commitment to enforcing planning and safety regulations, urging all residents and business operators to obtain the necessary approvals and permits.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of following building codes and the risks of disregarding safety regulations. County officials continue to appeal for public cooperation in ensuring that all developments are properly regulated to avoid such tragic outcomes in the future.
