Child among three killed in Nairobi gas explosion that injured hundreds
At least three people, including a child, were killed when a lorry loaded with gas exploded and set off an inferno that burned homes and warehouses in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday night.
More than 270 people were injured in the huge fire as many residents were understood to be inside their homes when the blaze reached houses late in the night in the Mradi area of the Embakasi neighbourhood, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said.
The truck explosion ignited a huge fireball, and a flying gas cylinder set off a fire that burned down the Oriental Godown, a warehouse that deals with garments and textiles, Mr Mwaura said.
Several other vehicles and businesses were damaged by the inferno that started around 11.30pm on Thursday.
At the scene after daybreak, several houses and shops were burned out. The shell of the vehicle believed to have started the explosion was lying on its side.
The roof of a four-storey residential building about 200 metres from the scene of the explosion was broken by a flying gas cylinder. Electric wires lay on the ground.
Nothing remained in the burned-out warehouse except the shells of several trucks.
Police and the Kenya Red Cross reported three deaths. Wesley Kimeto, the Embakasi police chief, said an adult and a minor were confirmed dead at 4.30am local time and the death toll could rise, Sky News reports.
Alfred Juma, an aspiring politician, said he heard loud noise from a gas cylinder in a warehouse next to his house.
“I started waking up neighbours asking them to leave,” Mr Juma said.
He said he warned a black car not to drive through the area, but the driver insisted and his vehicle stalled because of the fumes.
“He attempted to start the car three times and that’s when there was an explosion and the fire spread into the [warehouse] setting off other explosions.”
Mr Juma said he grabbed two children and they hid in a sewage ditch until the explosions ended.
His family had not been present, but he lost everything he owned in the fire.
“Police were turning away everyone and so it was difficult to access my house and I had to seek a place to sleep until this morning,” neighbour Caroline Karanja said.
She said the smell and smoke were still choking, and she would have to stay away for a while because she had young children.
The proximity of the industrial company to residences raised questions about enforcement of city plans. Officials at the county government have been accused of taking bribes to overlook building codes and regulations.
Additional reporting by agencies
