Property of unknown value went up in flames on Monday, November 18, at the Mlango Kubwa Estate in Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi.
The fire, which broke out at around 7.30pm burnt down at least 50 households, forcing residents to seek alternative shelters in the neighbouring estates.
While confirming the incident, the Kenya Red Cross Society, Nairobi branch, revealed that it had dispatched a rescue team to the scene.
“Fire outbreak reported in Mathare, Mlango Kubwa area. Our Community-Based Disaster Response Team (CBDRTs) at the scene,” the Kenya Red Cross announced in a statement.
Moments later, the Nairobi Disaster Management team, along with the area police officers, arrived at the scene and intensified efforts to put out the fire that had engulfed several houses.
In the videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, the residents were captured watching from a distance as their property went up in flames even as responders heightened their efforts to rescue trapped persons.
Hours after battling the inferno, the multi-agency team managed to contain the fire. However, during the incident, no casualties were reported. “Fire was contained by Fire brigades. An approximate 50 households were affected with no casualties involved,” Kenya Red Cross announced.
While the case of the fire is yet to be established, the night inferno at Mlango Kubwa adds to a long list of fire incidents reported across the country, particularly in schools.
In a recent fire incident, one person died while another suffered critical injuries following a gas explosion that occurred in Oyugis town, Homa Bay County. According to witnesses, the Friday, November 15, incident took place after a fire reported broke out in one of the shops before escalating to the gas store.
The deceased is said to have died after a gas cylinder blew and struck him on the head. The area chief revealed that the deceased was standing about twenty metres from the scene of the tragedy when the debris hit him.
Videos obtained from the scene depicted the bookshop located near the gas store wholly engulfed in smoke, with some residents captured attempting to salvage their property before the fire spread to other parts.
Hours after the tragedy, the area police officers arrived at the scene and cordoned off the place to pave the way for investigations. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire was yet to be established.
