In the aftermath of a devastating gas blast in Nairobi that claimed six lives and left nearly 300 injured last week, authorities have evacuated residents from the affected area following reports of a suspected fresh gas leak.
Nairobi’s Embakasi neighbourhood, where the tragic explosion occurred, has seen schools urging parents to collect their children as a precautionary measure.
According to Bramwel Simiyu, the head of disaster management for Nairobi County, the area has been secured by authorities. Speaking to a Kenyan news website, he stated,”It is just precautionary we have evacuated them as we invited the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) to identify whether there is a threat.”
The latest incident has raised concerns, especially as some residents had previously reported a gas leak to local authorities, which allegedly went ignored hours before the fatal explosion on Thursday night. A truck transporting gas cylinders exploded at approximately 23:30 local time, resulting in a massive fireball and the destruction of several homes and vehicles. Authorities are taking proactive measures to address the current situation and prevent further tragedies.