A massive fire in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, triggered by a gas explosion, has resulted in at least three deaths and over 200 people injured, according to government reports.
At least 200 injured in major fire in Nairobi The Kenyan government has reported many injured and at least three deaths following a major fire in the capital, Nairobi. It was triggered by the explosion of a gas-loaded truck, causing numerous houses to catch fire.
According to government officials, at least three people have died and over 200 injured in a major fire caused by a gas explosion in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Kenyan government spokesperson Isaac Maigua Mwaura stated on the messaging service X that a gas-loaded truck exploded late in the evening in the Embakasi neighborhood in the southeast of Nairobi, resulting in a “huge fireball” that spread rapidly.
As the government spokesperson further wrote, numerous shops and residential buildings caught fire. Videos on social media showed fireballs rising into the sky as people panicked and ran through the streets.
According to local media, it took hours for firefighters and other rescue services to arrive at the scene.
In the morning, many firefighters were still working to extinguish the flames, as reported by a journalist from the news agency AFP. Thick black smoke billowed up. The affected neighborhood is home to a significant amount of industry, as well as high-rise buildings and informal settlements.