Breaking: Two confirmed dead, nearly 300 others injured in Kenya gas blast
Two people were confirmed dead while nearly 300 others have been injured following a huge gas blast in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
A government spokesperson said a lorry carrying gas exploded in Embakasi district around 23:30 (20:30 GMT), “igniting a huge ball of fire.”
The inferno damaged houses, businesses and cars with video showing a huge blaze ripping through blocks of flats.
The actual cause of the blast has not been ascertained by the government.
A local report says scores of the injured are said to have inhalation injuries and they include at least 25 children.
One of the victims, Boniface Sifuna, told Reuters news agency that he got hurt by an exploded gas cylinder while trying to escape.
He said, “I got burnt by an exploding gas canister as I was trying to escape.”
“It exploded right in front of me and the impact knocked me down and the flames engulfed me. I am lucky that I was strong enough to get away.”
While commenting on the incident, the Kenya Red Cross announced on social media that crews had been “tirelessly battling the flames”.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the inferno had been tamed and called on Kenyans to allow rescue efforts to be carried out effortlessly.
“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.
