At least three people died and 271 were injured due to a strong gas explosion occurred shortly before last midnight in a neighborhood of Nairobi, the authorities and the Red Cross reported today after the Kenyan Government initially estimated the deaths at two and the wounded in 220.

“We have three deaths so far and our teams are still checking here,” Deputy Inspector General of the Kenyan Police, Douglas Kanja, told reporters at the scene. For its part, the Red Cross indicated in its X social network account that “the concerted actions of several response units have led to as a result of the successful evacuation of 271 people to different health centers in Nairobi.

The Red Cross added that, in collaboration with an ambulance service, it treated “27 additional people on site“Previously, the spokesperson for the Government of Kenya, Isaac Maigua Mwaura, had given explanations about the event.

“Yesterday, Thursday, February 1, 2024, around 11:30 p.m. (20:30 GMT), a huge explosion occurred in the Mradi area of ​​Embakasi,” about eighteen kilometers from the center of the Kenyan capitalMwaura said on his X social network account. “A truck with an unknown license plate that was loaded with gas exploded, causing a huge fireball that spread widely,” the spokesperson explained.

A gas cylinder hit a clothing and textile warehouse and, as a result, the fire damaged vehicles and commercial property, iincluding many small and medium-sized businesses.

According to Mwaura, houses in the neighborhood also caught fire and a good number of residents were in them. “As a result, two fellow Kenyans sadly lost their lives while being treated at Nairobi West Hospital. In addition, another 222 Kenyans were injured in the fire and They were rushed to several hospitals.“he stressed.

The site, where fire trucks and emergency services personnel were deployed, has already been secured and authorities have established a command center to help coordinate rescue operations. “Kenyans are advised to stay away from the cordoned off area to allow the rescue mission is carried out with minimal disruption“added the spokesperson, who sent his “most sincere condolences” to the families of the victims.