NAIROBI
Three worshippers were killed and two others seriously injured on Wednesday when an ageing mosque collapsed in Kenya's coastal Lamu County.
"Workers were renovating Jumaa Mosque on Pate Island when the roof fell inwards, killing three people as worshippers entered for midday prayers," Lamu County Commissioner Miiri Njenga told Anadolu Agency by phone.
"Two other worshippers sustained serious injuries and have been rushed to hospital for treatment," he added.
He failed to explain, however, whether the injured were worshippers or workers carrying out renovation works.
Pate Island, famous for its ancient ruins surrounded by mangrove swamps, is the largest island on the Lamu Archipelago, which includes four other islands: Manda, Lamu, Kikwayu and Manda Toto.
Jumaa Mosque is one of 2,000 mosques in Kenya's coastal region, according to Lamu County Chief Kadhi Sharif Ahmed Hussein Muhdhar.
He said Muslims account for nearly six million of Kenya's 40 million-strong population.
"Half a million of the country's Muslims live in Lamu County," Muhdhar told AA.
By James Shimanyula
www.aa.com.tr/en
