Death, injuries as fire razes Nairobi's biggest Gikomba market

Fire razes timber yards at Kwa Mbao section Gikomba market in Nairobi on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY 

In Summary

• Witnesses say that they counted at least six unidentified bodies that had been burnt beyond recognition.

By DAILY NATION
More by this Author

At least 15 people are feared dead and more than 60 injured after a night fire, once again, gutted a section of Nairobi’s biggest market, Gikomba, early morning on Thursday.

Witnesses told the Nation that they counted at least six unidentified bodies that had been burnt beyond recognition.

Some of the victims burned while others choked after inhaling poisonous fumes as they battled to save and salvage their property.

Emergency service provider, St John’s Ambulance, said 70 others, mainly traders, were taken to Kenyatta and other city hospitals with burns.

Timber yards go up in smoke at Gikomba market in Nairobi on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY

Others were evacuated and treated by emergency service providers on the scene.

“At least 40 casualties evacuated by St John Ambulance following huge fire that gutted part of residential and market sections of Gikomba,” the emergency service provider said in a tweet.

Firefighters battle to put out fire at one of the shops at Gikomba market in Nairobi on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY

The flames broke out at around 1am at Kwa Mbao area, according to the Kenya Red Cross, before spreading to other parts of the informal market.

The blaze that consumed timber yards and bales of used clothes intensified at around 2.30am Thursday and by 7.30am, firefighters from Nairobi City County Fire Brigade were still battling to put it out.

Some of the shanty shops and timber yards that were razed at Gikomba market in Nairobi on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY

The inferno, which spread fast to residential houses neighbouring the timber yards, caused "extensive damage to property", the Red Cross said.

Located in Majengo area of Kamukunji Constituency, Gikomba market, which is popular among second-hand-cloth buyers, has been experiencing fires every year since 2015.

The morning blaze gutted some residential houses at Gikomba market in Nairobi on June 28, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY

Last year, President Kenyatta ordered investigations after two fire incidents rocked the market in a span of nine months.