At least three people were killed and more than 270 injured, with the death toll expected to rise as a petrol-filled vehicle exploded and burst into flames in the Kenyan capital early Friday, burning down homes and warehouses. .
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said many residents were likely inside their homes when the fire reached them late at night in the Mradi area of Nairobi’s Embakasi district.
Mwaura said the truck explosion created a huge fireball and a flying gas cylinder caught fire, burning down Oriental Godown, a warehouse that sells clothing and textile products.
Several other vehicles and businesses were damaged by the inferno, which began Thursday around 11:30 p.m.
At the scene after dawn, several houses and businesses were burnt to the ground. The shell from the vehicle that was believed to have caused the explosion was lying on its side.
The roof of a four-story house about 200 meters from the explosion site was destroyed by a flying gas cylinder.
Electric wires were laid on the ground. Nothing remained of the burnt-out warehouse except shells from several trucks.
Alfred Juma, an aspiring politician, said he heard loud noises coming from gas cylinders in a warehouse next to his house. “I started waking up my neighbors and asking them to leave,” Juma said.
He said he warned the black car not to drive in the area, but the driver insisted and the car stalled due to exhaust fumes.
“He tried to start the car three times, at which time an explosion occurred and the fire spread to (the warehouse) and caused other explosions.”
They grabbed two children and hid in a sewer until the explosion was over.
Although his family was not at the scene, Juma lost all his belongings in the fire.
“It was difficult to get close to the house because the police chased everyone away, so I had to look for a place to sleep until this morning,” neighbor Caroline Karanja said.
She said the smell and smoke were still choking and she would have to leave for a while because she has young children.
Police and the Kenya Red Cross reported three deaths.
Embakasi Police Chief Wesley Kimeto said the death toll since dawn could be higher.
According to the government and the Red Cross, 271 people were injured and taken to multiple hospitals.
The industrial company’s proximity to housing has raised questions about urban planning enforcement.
County government officials are accused of accepting bribes to ignore building codes and regulations.
