At least two people died and 220 were injured by a powerful gas explosion that occurred in a Nairobi neighborhood shortly before midnight, Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Maigua Mwaura reported today.
“Yesterday, Thursday, February 1, 2024, at about 11:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. GMT), a massive explosion occurred in the Mradi area in Embakasi,” about eighteen kilometers from the center of the Kenyan capital, he explained. Mwaura on his X account on the social network.
“A gas-laden truck with an unknown license plate exploded, causing a huge fireball that spread widely,” the spokesman said.
A gas cylinder hit a clothing and textile warehouse, causing vehicles and commercial properties, including many small and medium-sized businesses, to catch fire.
According to Mwaura, houses in the neighborhood containing numerous residents also caught fire.
“As a result, two fellow Kenyans unfortunately lost their lives while receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital. Additionally, another 222 Kenyans were injured in the fire and admitted to various hospitals,” he stressed.
The location where fire engines and rescue workers were deployed has already been secured and authorities have set up a command center to help coordinate rescue operations.
“Kenyans are advised to stay away from the cordoned off area so that the rescue mission can be carried out with minimal disruption,” added the spokesman, who expressed his “sincere condolences” to the victims’ families.