- Nairobi gas explosion kills three
- 271 injured, hospitals overwhelmed
- Zoning regulation concerns raised
Local media were informed by an eyewitness that “huge fireballs” were visible, and that “people were running and screaming for cover in fear of further explosions.” The police have issued a warning that the death toll may escalate.
A truck loaded with gas cylinders exploded near an industrial site in Nairobi, causing a “huge fireball” that spread to adjacent residences and warehouses, resulting in the fatalities of three individuals, one of whom was a child.
271 people were injured and transported to hospitals, according to officials, as a result of the explosions in the Embakasi neighbourhood of the capital of Kenya.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura stated that the explosions occurred on Thursday at approximately 11:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. UK time). Many people were believed to have been inside their residences when the fire reached their properties.
The Embakasi police issued a warning that the death toll could escalate.
A number of enterprises and vehicles were also destroyed in the blaze.
According to a witness who spoke to Kenya’s Nation news site, “huge fireballs” and “huge explosions” were observed. People were fleeing in terror for fear of more explosions.
Mr Mwaura’s X post said a gas cylinder truck detonated, causing “a tremendous fireball to propagate extensively.” According to him, one of the “flying” cylinders destroyed a textiles warehouse by striking it.
Explosion Devastates Nairobi Community
Mr. Mwaura further stated, “As a result, numerous vehicles and commercial properties were severely damaged by the fire.” This included a significant number of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Unfortunately, residential dwellings in the vicinity also took fire, despite the fact that a considerable number of inhabitants remained inside due to the late hour.
The vehicle thought to have initiated the detonation was inverted laterally, leaving solely the projectile lying on the roadway.
Flying gas cylinder debris destroyed the roof of a four-story residential building 200 metres from the explosion site.
The origin of the initial explosion is unknown.
The Mama Lucy Hospital in the city was contacted by a total of 167 individuals for treatment. Of these, 142 were adults and 25 were minors, according to local media. Many of them, according to The Standard, sustained inhalation injuries.
As previously reported on X, the Kenya Red Cross transported 29 individuals to the Kenyatta National Hospital while personnel “tirelessly fought the flames.”
It was subsequently reported that personnel had effectively facilitated the reunification of twenty-one children with their guardians.
A local resident, Alfred Juma, reported that the explosion completely devastated his residence.
Residents Reel from Explosion Aftermath
According to Mr Juma, upon hearing a loud commotion, he roused his neighbours and urged them to vacate.
Two children, according to him, hid in a drainage ditch until the explosions ceased.
Additionally, Mr Juma stated that he cautioned a vehicle’s driver against traversing the area, but the driver persisted, causing his vehicle to halt due to the fumes.
Three attempts to start the vehicle resulted in an explosion, which subsequently ignited a fire that permeated the warehouse and triggered additional detonations.
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Caroline Karanja, an additional resident in close proximity to the location, remarked, “The police turned away everyone, which made it difficult to enter my home and forced me to sleep elsewhere until this morning.”
Friday morning, according to Ms Karanja, the odour and smoke were still strong, and she would be unable to enter for some time due to the fact that she had young children.
Due to the industrial company’s building’s proximity to residential areas, concerns have been raised regarding the implementation of municipal zoning regulations.
In the past, officials were allegedly duped out of consideration for building codes and regulations in exchange for bribery.
