Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, witnessed a tragic incident as a vehicle laden with gas exploded, resulting in the loss of at least three lives and leaving over 270 individuals injured. The blast happened on Thursday night in the Embakasi district, setting off an inferno that burned homes and warehouses. Housing, businesses, and cars were destroyed, while a video posted on social media showed a huge fireball raging near blocks of residential buildings. “The death toll will likely rise as the day progresses,” said Wesley Kimeto, police chief for the Embakasi neighborhood where the explosion occurred. A government spokesperson said the fire severely damaged a company refilling gas cylinders in the area. The fire also spread to nearby warehouses, leaving a massive smoke plume soaring over homes in the city’s southeast suburbs. The cause of the blast is under investigation.
A vast crater appeared at the site of the explosion, where several cars were destroyed, and many others were charred. A vehicle believed to have started the fire was flipped over, and only its shell remained on the road. A large number of shops and warehouses were also burned. A warehouse that deals with garments and textiles was among the affected structures, a video on Twitter showed. The blaze broke out at around 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the Mradi area of Embakasi, and a massive fireball could be seen from a distance.
The blast and subsequent inferno were so intense that they could be heard miles away, the Associated Press reported. Witnesses were heard screaming and running for their lives. The blaze was contained by Friday morning, but the damage is estimated to be worth billions of dollars, according to The Nation newspaper. The AP cited local police, who said the fire was being investigated as a criminal act.
Embakasi is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Nairobi, and the fire left some residents with nothing but burnt remains of their homes. “I lost all my belongings in the fire,” Alfred Juma, a resident, told The Nation. “I grabbed my children, ran to a sewage ditch, and hid there until the fire was out.”
The inferno came just two days after the Gikomba market blaze killed nine people and injured 70 others. The pre-dawn blaze burned many wood and tarp stalls selling secondhand clothes, shoes, and vegetables in the busy market, known for its low prices. The blaze prompted Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to declare an emergency in the city, saying the market did not comply with building codes and should be shut down immediately. The blaze is also being investigated as a possible arson attack. Officials have warned that the situation is delicate and asked residents to stay inside their homes. They also called on traders to comply with regulations and avoid illegal activities at the site. The blaze is the worst to hit the market in years. The blaze lasted more than four hours, and firefighting crews were working to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighboring buildings.
