Xuzhou – October 27, 2026 -- XCMG Group deployed an excavator and a 25-tonne crane to Nairobi's Eastleigh neighborhood after an 18-story building under construction collapsed on Oct. 23, helping local teams rescue two people, according to an Oct. 25 Xinhua News Agency report.
Rubble volume forced rescuers to seek heavy lifting equipment
The building came down on the afternoon of Oct. 23, with ground-floor shops open and construction workers on site. The Kenya Defence Forces, the Red Cross and police launched search and rescue operations. Thick layers of collapsed concrete slabs and a large volume of rubble created an urgent need for heavy lifting and demolition equipment.
XCMG sent an excavator the same day and a crane the next
XCMG's Kenya office activated its emergency response procedures and sent a team to coordinate with Kenya's National Disaster Operations Centre and police rescue personnel. After a request for assistance, the company dispatched an excavator on Oct. 23 and a 25-tonne crane the following day. All equipment and personnel worked under the direction of the on-site rescue team to reach people trapped beneath the rubble and clear access routes.
Police officer credits excavator with freeing two survivors
William Sifuna Watitwa, a police personnel officer for the Nairobi North sub-region, told Xinhua the excavator was crucial to freeing the two survivors. The crane let crews lift heavy wreckage from above, which reduced debris weight and improved access to areas where survivors might be located.
Fredrick Nyasani, an administrator at XCMG's Kenya office, said the company is "part of the local community" after operating in Kenya for many years, and that it has a responsibility to use its equipment and technical personnel to support rescue teams.
Five people remain missing as of Oct. 25
Government officials said five people were still missing and four were receiving hospital treatment as of Oct. 25. XCMG's rescue team will continue supporting local operations and remain at the site until its work is complete.