A fire outbreak in a Kenyan market in Nairobi on Thursday has killed at least fifteen people, leaving several others injured.
Officials said the blaze started early morning, destroying several apartments and settlements around.
Nairobi regional coordinator Kangethe Thuku is quoted by Reuters as saying that “About five… arrived dead in the hospital but we still have about nine bodies in the burning buildings.”
Nairobi Market
The market located in Gikomba is one of the largest open-air markets in the Kenyan capital.
The Gikomba community is home to the informal market system in Kenya where all kinds of products including second-hand clothes to hardware are sold.
At least 9 people feared dead, 58 injured, property worth millions destroyed after a fire outbreak at Nairobi’s Gikomba market at 2AM. Victims rushed to KNH.
St John Ambulance at the scene. pic.twitter.com/Y9PxVTP7Wb— St John Ambulance (@StJohnKenya) June 28, 2018
Officials said fire outbreaks are frequent in the market, bringing into question safety measures there.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Extend of destruction
There are fears the death toll could increase since as many as 70 people are reported injured.
A Reuters photographer claimed to have seen bodies being brought out from a building.
There were pictures also showing people sifting through ashen wreckage as smoke rose from the site.
Source: Africafeeds.com
