Scores of people are feared dead, and many more have sustained life-threatening injuries in Mradi village, Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya, following a gas plant explosion minutes before midnight on Thursday. The incident has engulfed neighboring buildings, triggering panic among residents, with emergency services, including firefighters, yet to arrive at the scene.
Eyewitnesses described massive explosions, fireballs, and chaos as people fled in fear. Power was cut, and residents in estates such as Nyayo Embakasi and the informal settlement called Mradi reported the terrifying scenes. A journalist residing in Nyayo estate shared the intensity of the explosions, emphasizing the lack of firefighting response.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura confirmed that the gas refilling plant was in the process of refilling gas cylinders when the fire broke out, causing several injuries and significant damage to the building. The exact number of casualties is still unconfirmed, contributing to heightened panic in the area.
Rescue operations, involving a multi-agency response from Nairobi City County, the National Police, and the Kenya Red Cross, are underway. As of 1:30 am, approximately 100 households in Mradi village have been evacuated. The Kenya Red Cross has urged the public to avoid the area as efforts continue to control the fire.
