NAIROBI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the Feb. 1 gas explosion in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, rose to six Monday after three more people succumbed to their burns, authorities said.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said seven more people are in critical condition in hospitals in Nairobi after a truck loaded with gas cylinders exploded at an illegal filling station in the eastern part of Nairobi Thursday, igniting a huge fireball that spread to warehouses and a neighborhood nearby.
More than 300 people were injured and are being treated in various hospitals around the city.
Mwaura said those in critical condition were due to severe burns and inhalation injuries.
According to regulatory authorities, the illegal gas depot had twice been demolished, and the owner, who was found guilty of operating an illegal gas refilling business in May 2023, nevertheless continued to do business illegally.
Nairobi County police commander Adamson Bungei said the three victims had sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital, the country's largest referral hospital, where they succumbed.
Bungei said they arrested one of the directors at the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) for allegedly issuing a license illegally to the company even as they continued to look for more suspects behind the incident.
"Those who are supposed to help in this probe know themselves and are asked to surrender. We are pursuing them," he said.
The business owner, who has been listed as a suspect, through his lawyer Wandugi Kirathe, has denied hiding claims, saying he has been cooperating with police officers investigating the matter. "It is important to note that our client is not in hiding, he is available, he is within the public and has been in touch with sections of the police," Kirathe said.
The owner of the depot, who is in the business of transporting LPG products, last year made applications to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to get a license to operate a gas filling plant in the area but the applications were rejected. He argued that he shelved the idea after EPRA rejected his applications because the site was not viable due to its closeness to the public.
Residents, however, said the place was an illegal gas filling plant which was preferred for its cheaper gas. ■
