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At least 3 killed as mosque collapses in Kenya's Lamu

18 September 2014 02:50 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least three people were killed on Wednesday after a mosque collapsed in the coastal town of Lamu, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Lamu County Commissioner Miiri Njenga said several worshipers were injured and other trapped after the mosque collapsed.

Miiri told Xinhua on phone that a rescue team comprising Kenya Navy, police and Red Cross has been dispatched to conduct a search and rescue operation.

"We have deployed team to the scene to assist in rescuing some of the worshipers feared to be trapped underneath the debris. It's unfortunate that we have lost three people," Miiri said, adding that the rescue mission took long because the island is deep within the Indian Ocean from the mainland where the boats were responding.

According to locals, the mosque, Masjid Ijumaa, is among the oldest mosque earmarked as historic monument within Pate Island in Lamu East.

Hundreds of locals normally flock the Mosque during the Friday prayers. Police said the Mosque was under construction when in caved in.

Miiri said they will launch investigation once the rescue operation is over to establish the exact cause of the accident.

He said the government will advise the mosque's committee to demolish or keep off from the mosques that are unsafe to avoid future loss of lives.