Rédaction Africa Links 24 with AFP
Published on 2024-02-02 19:30:00
At least three people lost their lives and 280 were injured due to a gas explosion that caused a massive fireball in a densely populated section of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, as per officials on Friday. The blast ensued after a truck carrying gas canisters blew up shortly before midnight on Thursday in the Embakasi district, resulting in destruction and sending people fleeing for safety. Shaken residents asserted that this disaster was waiting to happen due to the numerous gas depots in the area, with a regional energy body affirming that the site of the explosion was being operated illegally.
Residents described the event as terrifying, with the entire building shaking and feeling like it was going to collapse. The blast was felt several kilometers away, prompting investigations to determine the cause. The Kenyan government has pledged to hold those responsible accountable for the “unacceptable occurrence,” with three deaths confirmed and 280 individuals requiring hospitalization due to the explosion and subsequent fire. The inferno damaged vehicles and businesses, including a garment and textile factory that was completely destroyed. Residential buildings in the vicinity also caught fire, further adding to the tragic outcome.
The authorities managed to bring the fire under control after more than nine hours, during which time a guard at the gas site was arrested and investigations were initiated. It was revealed that the explosion occurred at an “illegal LPG refilling and storage site” whose owner and some customers had already been convicted and sentenced earlier. Despite multiple rejections from regulatory authorities, the proprietor continued to operate the facility without the required safety standards.
Embakasi, with a population of approximately one million, is a residential and industrial area located 10 kilometers from Kenya’s main international airport. Images from the aftermath of the fire depicted a scene of devastation, with charred vehicles, burnt-out buildings, and smoldering debris littering the area. Several residents shared their harrowing experiences of fleeing for their lives amidst the chaos, recalling the fear and confusion that ensued as they sought safety.
The Kenyan capital has unfortunately experienced similar tragedies in the past, including a fuel pipeline leak that resulted in over 100 fatalities in 2011 and a market blaze in 2018 that claimed 15 lives and injured scores of others. The latest gas explosion has reignited concerns about the safety of industrial operations in such densely populated areas, with many residents and experts expressing their grievances about the government’s failure to enforce strict safety regulations.
The tragic incident has highlighted the urgent need for tighter safety measures and stricter enforcement of regulations to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future. As the investigations into the blast continue, the focus remains on holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that the necessary safety protocols are implemented to safeguard the lives and well-being of the residents in densely populated areas.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
