Body of man who entered Mombasa building before collapse retrieved

The body of a man who walked into the condemned Mombasa building before its collapse on April 2, 2025 was found and retrieved.

After days of search operations following the demolition of the building on April 9, the body of Yusuf Ali was retrieved on Sunday.

Officials said an autopsy was planned ahead of burial.

CCTV footage from the scene showed that Ali went inside before it began sinking and was later cordoned off.

Police said Ali spoke to two guards at the building before one of them went to show him the units he intended to purchase.

The condemned house was demolished in an operation led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), which saw explosive detonated to bring down the building.

Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the structure exhibited severe foundational compromise due to the unapproved borehole drilling into the foundation, with ground floor columns collapsing by approximately three metres.

The owner of the building says he incurred losses running to more than Sh350 million which he had spent in the construction.