Three people dead and almost 300 injured in gas explosion in capital of Kenya

A big explosion of gas in Nairobi, Kenya, has killed at least three people and hurt nearly 300.

A truck with gas exploded in Embakasi district at around 11:30 pm, causing a big fire, said a government spokesperson.

Homes, stores, and cars were destroyed, and there was a big fire near apartment buildings.

Before, the government said that the explosion happened at a gas factory. The reason is still being figured out.

Embakasi’s top police officer, Wesley Kimeto, said that a child was one of the people who died in the explosion. He also mentioned that the number of people who died could increase.

The Kenya Red Cross helped 271 people get to the hospital and treated 27 more at the scene.

The explosion sent a fireball in all directions, and according to the government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, a gas cylinder hit a warehouse full of clothes and fabric, causing it to catch fire and burn down.

“The fire hurt more cars and stores, including a lot of small and medium-sized businesses,” he said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the homes in the area also caught on fire while many people were still inside, because it was late at night. ”

People told the news that they felt shaking right after the explosion.

The Standard newspaper says that many of the injured have breathing problems, and at least 25 of them are children.

One person named Boniface Sifuna said to the news agency Reuters, “I got burned by a gas canister that exploded when I was trying to get away. ”

“It blew up in front of me and the force knocked me down and the fire surrounded me. ” I feel fortunate that I was able to escape because I was strong enough.

James Ngoge, who lives nearby, said he heard a big explosion from his house when the blast happened.

“It seemed like it might fall down. ” At first, we didn’t know what was happening, it felt like an earthquake.

“My business in the street was all wrecked. ”

A reporter from the Nation newspaper who lives in the area said that everyone had left their homes after the explosion.

The Kenya Red Cross posted on social media that people have been working very hard to put out the fire.

Mr Mwaura, who speaks for the government, said that the explosion area is safe now and a place to command the rescue work has been set up.

The Kenyans are told to stay away from the area that is blocked off so that the rescue mission can happen without problems.