Two People Dead, Over 200 Others Injured In Massive Fire From Gas Explosion In Kenya

A massive fire resulting from a gas-laden truck explosion in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, has left at least two people dead and over 200 injured.

A government spokesman, Isaac Maigua Mwaura, who disclosed this on his Twitter page, said that the explosion ignited a “huge ball of fire that spread widely”.

“Consequently, the inferno further damaged several vehicles and commercial properties, including many small and medium-sized businesses,” he said.

Mwaura added that “residential houses in the neighborhood also caught fire, with a good number of residents still inside as it was late at night.”

Two people succumbed to their injuries, and 222 others were urgently transported to various hospitals in the capital, as reported by the government spokesman.

The Kenya Red Cross had earlier indicated nearly 300 injuries.

The fire erupted on Thursday night in the Embakasi neighborhood, southeast of the capital, as shown in images broadcasted by local media, revealing a massive fireball near several homes.

James Ngoge, a resident living across the street from the fire, described the experience saying: “We were in the house and heard a huge explosion. The whole building was shaken by a huge tremor, it felt like it was going to collapse.

“At first, we didn’t even know what was happening, it was like an earthquake. I have a business on the road that was completely destroyed.”

Many residents in the affected area spent the night outdoors, and police cordoned off the impacted zone. Some individuals were observed collecting their belongings and assessing the damage.

Isaac Maigua Mwaura assured that the scene has been secured, and a command center has been established to coordinate rescue operations and other intervention efforts.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a 25-year-old Kenyan woman, Patience Cherotich was arraingned for allegedly setting fire to a house belonging to her Nigerian ex-boyfriend, Benjamin Obeten.