LONDON — At least three people were killed and 298 others injured Thursday night when a gas explosion unleashed an inferno in Kenya’s capital while residents slept, authorities said.
A fire resulting from a gas explosion was reported in the Mradi area of Nairobi’s Embakasi neighborhood at 11:30 p.m. local time. The injured were evacuated and transported to various hospitals in the city, according to the Kenya Police Service.
Military firefighters gather near the site of an explosion at a makeshift gas cylinder refilling depot in Mradi estate, Embakasi district, in Nairobi, Kenya, February 2, 2024.
Stringer via Reuters
The fire, which burned homes and warehouses, has since been contained and the site secured, police said.
Kenya Police Service Deputy Inspector General Douglas Kanja visited the scene on Friday morning and a multi-agency team remains at the scene. The fire is under investigation, according to police.
Firefighters try to extinguish a fire in Embakasi, Nairobi, Kenya, on February 2, 2024.
Stringer via EPA via Shutterstock
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.