In a devastating incident in Nairobi, a gas explosion rocked the Embakasi district, resulting in the loss of at least three lives and injuries to nearly 300 individuals. The catastrophe unfolded around 23:30 on Thursday when a lorry transporting gas cylinders exploded, creating a massive fireball that engulfed the surroundings.
Embakasi police chief Wesley Kimeto reported that among the casualties, a child was among the deceased, and the death toll could potentially rise. Emergency services swiftly responded, transporting 271 injured individuals to hospitals, including 25 children. Nairobi county Governor Sakaja Johnson indicated that while many have been treated and discharged, 39 remain in various facilities, some with critical injuries.
The blast initially led authorities to believe it occurred at a gas plant during cylinder refilling. However, subsequent investigations clarified that a truck had exploded in a parking yard. Video footage captured the intense blaze causing damage to residences, businesses, and vehicles, prompting the area to be cordoned off for further investigation.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura disclosed that the blast had far-reaching consequences, with a flying gas cylinder hitting a clothing and textiles warehouse, resulting in its destruction. The inferno also damaged numerous vehicles, commercial properties, and residential houses. A search and rescue operation is underway to locate any missing individuals or those who may have sought shelter elsewhere.
The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) revealed that the gas plant involved was operating illegally. Despite rejecting three construction permit applications due to safety concerns and the high local population, the facility continued its operations. Mwaura insisted that the company owners must compensate the victims and take full responsibility for the tragedy.
The extent of the destruction became evident as approximately 10 trucks were completely incinerated within the explosion site. One vehicle landed on a nearby block of flats, causing partial destruction to the building. Witnesses described a chaotic scene where objects, including gas cylinders and a shipping container, were propelled into the air.
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of the incident. Jackline Karimi recounted running out of her house and witnessing a woman on fire while helpless bystanders fled the scene. She sustained burns on her hand, arm, and leg during the chaos. Another woman, residing in a flat near the blast, expressed concern for her pregnant friend and child, both of whom were in the now-burned residence.
At Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, where many of the injured were initially treated, a man named Geoffrey detailed his family’s experience. Woken by a colossal explosion, they believed their building was collapsing. In an attempt to shield his child, Geoffrey sustained severe burns on his back, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
Isaac Mwaura, the government spokesperson, assured the public of a coordinated response, with a command center established for rescue operations. Humanitarian assistance is being provided to those affected, and the government plans to offer two months’ rent to survivors whose homes were destroyed in the explosion. As investigations continue, questions arise about the oversight and enforcement that allowed an illegal operation to persist, resulting in this tragic loss of life and extensive damage.