Many homes, shops, and cars were badly damaged when a truck carrying gas cylinders exploded in Nairobi's Embakasi area. Thursday night, around 23:30, there was an explosion that caused a big fireball that hurt many people. A video showed a huge fire near homes and places of work.
🇰🇪 BREAKING: 3 DEAD AND 280 INJURED IN MASSIVE GAS EXPLOSION
Nairobi's Embakasi district was the scene of a tragic gas truck explosion that started a massive fire.
pic.twitter.com/xdSYQEKdyf— Elephant News Network (@elephantnewsgh) February 2, 2024
Casualties and injuries
Wesley Kimeto, the police chief of Embakasi, said that one of the people who died was a child, and the number of deaths may reach more. Health care was given to about 271 people, including 25 children. There have been at least 39 people with serious injuries sent to other medical facilities after being treated and sent home. The other 27 people who were hurt but not seriously hurt were treated on site.
Response from the government
The tragic and unfortunate incident of the Liquified Petroleum Gas explosion last night at Mradi Embakasi, Nairobi, has caused deep agony and great pain to many families.
This afternoon, I visited the site of the terrible incident in which we lost lives and property.
I have… pic.twitter.com/SH1NoZFmSE— H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) February 2, 2024
The government first thought the explosion happened at a gas plant while tanks were being refilled. The blast did happen in a parking lot, not on the highway; it became clear later. Because of concerns about safety and the large number of people living in the area, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) said the gas plant was neither legal nor required any building permits. The government told the owners of the flying company that they needed to pay the victims and take full responsibility for what happened. Vice President Biden promised a tough response from the government, meaning those who are guilty will be held accountable.
Operations to rescue people and provide help
Some people are missing or may have taken refuge somewhere else, so a search and rescue operation has been started to find them. For better coordination of rescue efforts and to help those who are hurt, the government has set up a command post. Survivors whose homes were destroyed in the explosion will also get two months' rent from the government.
In the end,
There were injuries and deaths in the explosion of a gas cylinder in Nairobi's Embakasi area, which damaged homes and businesses badly. There will be consequences for those involved, as the government has started an investigation into what happened. Help is being given to the people who need it as rescue operations are beginning. Because of this event, safety rules need to be strictly enforced, and illegal activities that put lives at risk need to be stopped.
(With Input from agencies)
Image source : Multiple agencies
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