In the southeast part of Nairobi, a devastating fire broke out late on a Thursday night, following a powerful explosion involving a fuel-laden truck. Provisional figures from authorities confirm that two people died and that more than two hundred individuals were treated for injuries across several hospitals in the city. The event drew rapid attention from government officials and emergency responders alike as they worked to manage the chaotic aftermath.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura provided an early briefing, noting that two fatalities occurred at Western Hospital in Nairobi. He also confirmed that 222 people were treated across five different hospital centers within the capital. The incident quickly became a major urban emergency, with responders racing to secure the scene and attend to the injured. The conversation on social media began to reference the incident as a major blast involving a truck loaded with fuel, underscoring the scale of the disruption in the Embakasi neighborhood.
The blast occurred around 11:30 p.m. local time, with eyewitness accounts describing a large fireball that swept through a broad area. A cylinder reportedly thrown into the air added to the destruction by striking a textile and clothing warehouse, amplifying the damage to nearby property and vehicles. Local authorities indicated that the fire affected homes, commercial facilities, and a range of vehicles, with many residents left inside late at night as flames raged nearby. Some reports cited a police commander who described the fire as having started moments before midnight due to an explosion at a gas station, though details varied in the immediate aftermath.
As the disaster response unfolded, officials urged residents to stay clear of cordoned zones to ensure that rescue operations proceeded with minimal disruption. The government pledged full cooperation and indicated that all available resources were being mobilized to assist victims and restore normalcy in the affected area.
The Red Cross, working in tandem with a multi-agency response team, reported that 271 people had been moved to various health centers around Nairobi for treatment or evaluation. In addition to evacuations, more than 50 individuals received on-site care at the location of the incident. Rescue and relief efforts continued into the early hours of the following day as investigators sought to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess the full extent of the damage wrought by the fire and ensuing collapse of structures.