A truck carrying cylinders of liquid petroleum gas experienced an explosion, causing a late-night fire that destroyed homes and warehouses in Nairobi, Kenya. The incident resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to over 280 others. It is anticipated that the number of fatalities will rise.
The Kenya Red Cross reported that a minimum of 24 individuals sustained severe injuries when a large fireball erupted from the gas depot. Numerous gas cylinders were launched over a distance of hundreds of meters, causing multiple fires to ignite.
The truck was situated within a facility for storing and filling gas cylinders, which Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority stated had been denied multiple permits to operate there last year due to its proximity to residential areas. This raises concerns about the potential illegal operation of the site.
“The local government was aware of the presence of a liquid petroleum gas plant in a residential area, yet they failed to take action,” expressed resident Charles Mainge. “Preventative measures must be taken to avoid a recurrence of this situation.”
According to witnesses, they heard a noise that they believed to be gas escaping from the storage facility prior to two explosions and a large fire. The incident occurred around 11:30pm on Thursday, resulting in a bright fireball illuminating the dark sky.
According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, numerous individuals were likely indoors when their residences in the Mradi area of Embakasi, Nairobi were affected by the fire.
According to Mwaura, a gas canister that was in flight caused a fire that destroyed a nearby warehouse for garments and textiles. The fire also caused damage to multiple other vehicles and businesses.
Witnesses captured footage of a fireball erupting following an explosion near a group of residential buildings. The sound of people screaming can be heard.
On Friday morning, there was a fire at the location which resulted in multiple houses and shops being destroyed. Another gas cylinder flew and damaged the roof of a four-story residential building approximately 200 meters away from the explosion. The ground was also littered with fallen electrical wires.
All that was left at the gas storage site that had been burned was the empty shells of a few trucks.
According to Alfred Juma, a resident of the area, his neighbors informed him about a potential gas leak. When he went outside, he heard a loud sound coming from a cylinder at the nearby storage facility next to his house.
Juma recounted, “I began alerting nearby residents and requesting them to evacuate.” He also stated that he cautioned a black car not to pass through the vicinity, but the driver disregarded his warning and ended up with a stalled vehicle due to the gas emissions. “The driver tried to start the car three times, which led to an explosion and subsequent spread of fire, causing additional explosions.”
The black car’s shell was on its side after the incident.
According to Juma, he assisted two kids who took shelter in a sewage trench until the blasts ceased. Although his family was not present at the time, Juma claims to have lost all of his possessions in the blaze.
According to Charles Mainge, individuals have shared their worries about the gas location. He mentioned that there were at least two major blasts, with the second one causing him and others to be knocked off their feet as they ventured out of their homes to observe the situation.
According to Embakasi police chief Wesley Kimeto, authorities have stated that three fatalities have been reported by both the police and the Kenya Red Cross, with the possibility of the number increasing.
Caroline Karanja, a resident, stated that the police had evacuated residents and were not allowing them to go back to their homes. She mentioned that the overpowering odor and smoke were still present and she would have to keep her distance as she has young children.
Last year in March, June, and July, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority received applications from the gas storage site for construction permits to establish a plant and conduct operations there.
The authority announced on Friday that all applications for an LPG storage and filling plant in the specified area were denied due to not meeting the required criteria. The primary reason for the rejection was the failure of the designs to meet safety distance regulations.
According to the regulatory authority, a requirement was for the gas company to provide a risk assessment called a “blast profile” that would determine the potential impact on nearby areas in case of an explosion. However, the gas storage company failed to submit these assessments.
The ongoing functioning of the gas storage and filling facility may come under intense examination by authorities in regards to enforcing regulations. There have been allegations against local government officials for accepting bribes to ignore violations of construction laws.
Source: theguardian.com
