In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a massive gas explosion has left about 300 people injured and at least three dead.
About 23:30 (20:30 GMT), a gas-carrying tanker burst in the Embakasi area, “igniting a huge ball of fire,” according to a government official.
Damage was done to cars, shops, and housing. A massive fire could be seen burning near apartment buildings in the footage.
The administration had earlier claimed that a gas plant was the site of the explosion. We are presently investigating the cause.
Wesley Kimeto, the head of Embakasi police, confirmed that a youngster was among the victims of the blast, but he cautioned that the number may go up.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, it had treated 27 patients on-site and transported 271 patients to hospitals.
According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura Mwaura, the blast’s fireball “spread widely,” and a flying gas cylinder struck and destroyed a warehouse that held clothes and textiles.
He released a statement saying, “The inferno further damaged several vehicles and commercial properties, including many small and medium sized businesses.”
“Unfortunately, because it was late at night, residential houses in the neighborhood also caught fire, with a good number of residents still inside.”
Witnesses reported experiencing tremors right away following the explosion to the local media.
According to the Standard newspaper, at least 25 youngsters are among the injured, many of whom are believed to have suffered inhalation injuries.
Boniface Sifuna, one of the injured, told the Reuters news agency what had happened, saying, “I got burned by an exploding gas canister as I was trying to escape.”
It burst right in front of me, bringing me to the ground as the impact and the flames consumed me. I’m fortunate that I had the strength to escape.
Living across the street from the explosion site, James Ngoge told the AFP news agency that he was at his home when he “heard a huge explosion.”
It seemed as though it would crumble. We were completely unaware of what was going on at first; it was similar to an earthquake.
“The business I own on that road was totally destroyed.”
After the explosion, according to a local journalist for the Nation daily, everyone had evacuated their homes.
The Kenya Red Cross said on social media that crews had been “tirelessly battling the flames”.
Government spokesman Mr Mwaura said the blast scene had been secured and a command centre had been set up to help co-ordinate rescue operations.
“Kenyans are hereby advised to keep off the cordoned area in order to allow the rescue mission to be carried out [with] minimal disruptions,” he added.
