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Fire following a gas explosion in Nairobi

Photo: Daniel Irungu / EPA

After a truck loaded with gas cylinders exploded in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, three people died and more than 200 were injured in a major fire. A government spokesman said via platform X that the truck exploded shortly before midnight for an initially unknown cause. The cylinders were filled with gas on company premises. Media reports quoted residents reporting the smell of gas and a hissing noise from the filling system.

In the evening, suspicions grew that the explosion could have been caused by negligence. The factory where the explosion occurred had been closed twice in the past, the Kenyan interior and energy ministers said in a joint statement that evening.

More than 200 dead, several people missing

While the government spokesman spoke of 222 injured, a police spokesman in the morning put the number at 271 injured. Even hours after the accident, it is unclear whether the number of victims will increase. Several people are still missing.

A “tremendous fireball” spread and hit surrounding shops and residential buildings in the commercial and industrial area in the Embakasi district. Since fabrics and clothing were stored in one of the shops, the flames spread quickly. Because of the late hour, many people were surprised by the fire while they were sleeping.

The Kenya Red Cross said 271 people were taken to various hospitals in the Kenyan capital during the rescue operation. It was initially unclear whether some of them were released after an examination and how many of the injured were in mortal danger. According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, the fire site was secured on Friday morning. The investigation into the cause of the fire and the extinguishing of sources of the fire was ongoing.

The gas cylinders are probably not filled correctly

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki and Energy Minister Davis Chirchir reported in the evening that, according to current knowledge, the gas bottling operation was illegal. After the company had been closed several times in recent years, a total of three applications for an operating license were rejected in 2023. Initial investigations indicated that the gas cylinders were not filled correctly. This resulted in an increased risk of escaping gas and the risk of explosion.

eru/dpa