Close

Please upgrade your browser to use africanews.com We built africanews.com using the latest web technologies, to bring you information wherever you are. This makes africanews faster and easier to use. Unfortunately, your browser doesn’t support those technologies. To access the africanews.com, please update you browser or download a future-proof browser.

Welcome to Africanews

Please select your experience

Watch Live

News

news

Gas explosions in Kenyan capital kill at least 2, injure 200

Volume 90%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
  • play/pause
  • increase volume
  • decrease volume
  • seek forwards
  • seek backwards
  • toggle captions
  • toggle fullscreen
  • mute/unmute
  • seek to %
  • SPACE
  • c
  • f
  • m
  • 0-9
00:00
00:00
00:00
 
In this image made from video, firefighters work on a fire in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.   -  
Copyright © africanews
John Ochieng/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved

Kenya

Gas explosions at an industrial building in Kenya's capital killed at least two people and injured 200 others, sending a fiery smoke plume rising over homes early Friday, authorities said.

The deaths of an adult and a minor were confirmed as of 4:30 a.m. and the toll may rise as the day breaks, said Wesley Kimeto, police chief for the Embakasi neighbourhood where the explosions occurred.

A company was refilling gas cylinders when the fire started and it badly damaged the building where the company was based, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said.

The fire started around midnight, and firefighters Friday morning were still putting out flames that had spread to nearby warehouses. The initial cause of the fire was unknown.

Nairobi residents who took several videos of the fire with their phones were heard speaking in concerned tones, some of them screaming.

The proximity of the industrial company to residences raised questions about enforcement of city plans.

Officials at the county government have been accused of taking bribes to overlook building codes and regulations.

View more