Huge gas explosion and fire kills at least 2, injures hundreds in Nyayo Embakasi

A gas explosion in Kenya’s capital on Thursday night killed at least two people and injured 222 others, according to authorities.

The blaze started when a truck carrying gas blew up in Nairobi’s Mradi, Embakasi area at about 11:30 p.m. local time, “igniting a huge ball of fire that spread widely,” government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said in a social media post.

Video posted on social media shows an explosion resulting in a huge fireball.

Residential buildings, businesses and cars were damaged in the blast and subsequent inferno, Mwaura said.

Two people died while receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital, according to Mwaura, who added, “the government sends its most sincere condolences to the families of the departed souls.”

The Kenya Red Cross said it had evacuated 271 people to hospitals around Nairobi and was “tirelessly battling the flames” alongside other agencies.

A command center has been set up at the scene to coordinate rescue operations and other intervention efforts, spokesperson Mwaura said, adding the scene was now secured.

“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 said.