124 Kenyans BURNT TO DEATH in Lunga Lunga fire

124 Kenyans BURNT TO DEATH in Lunga Lunga fire

Special to USAfricaonline.com

Monday, September 12, 2011. KBC/news agencies in Nairobi: At least 120 people were burnt to death after a leaking pipeline belonging to Kenya Pipeline Company  burst into flames along Lunga Lunga road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
Police said a large number of people had perished and it was proving difficult to establish the exact figure because some charred remains were found huddled in groups.
Residents said petrol spilled from a fuel depot owned by KPC and ran into a sewage dyke that runs under the slum, which is known as Sinai.

The petrol ignited, causing an inferno that left charred corpses and burnt skeletons.
“We have confirmed 61 dead so far, but we are retrieving more,” deputy police spokesman Charles Owino told Reuters.
Owino said the fire was ignited by a cigarette butt that was tossed onto the dyke, which opens into a small river.
Authorities said they were battling the fire before completing the count on the death toll in an area that police estimated to be just over an acre in size.
Residents of the slum tried to scoop up the fuel from the burst pipe and other from the sewer, but were burnt when the petrol ignited after someone tossed a cigarette butt into the sewer.
Firefighters scrambled across the corrugated rooftops of burning shacks to pour foam on petrol that flowed down the slum’s muddy alleyways. Ambulances ferried dozens of wounded to nearby hospitals.

Several leaders including  legislators, Ministers,  Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka visited the scene to condole the victims.
Nairobi Town Clerk Phillip Kisia who visited the said fire fighters had counted at least 120 bodies at the scene.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga  and area MP Mike Mbuvi alias Sonko shed tears after visiting the scene terming the incident as tragic.
“Its unfair for people to die like this,” Raila said.
Kalonzo promised that the government would help the families of the fire victims.
He said the tragedy was heartbreaking saying that it was time to throw blames .
They leaders said investigations have been launched into the cause of the fire.
Badly charred bodies littered the area, while some were piled into the Nairobi River, which passes by.
They died as they tried to swim across the river to safety.
“There is an informal school inside the slum, they have all been burnt,” Daniel Mutinda, a spokesman the Kenya Red Cross, said.

Journalists at the scene said they had counted more than 120 dead bodies but police confirmed that 80 deaths but warned that the death toll could reach 100.
MPs Sonko and  Ferdinard Waititu led protests to the KPC offices to express their displeasure at the tragedy
So far 112 victims have been admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital while others have been taken to The Mater Hospital and other neighbouring hospitals. Those at the Kenyatta National Hospital have been admitted in one ward . The Hospital is appealing for blood donation, water, beddings and room heaters to help manage the fire victims.

Rescue efforts have been hamphered by lack of access roads to the sprawling slum. Lunga Lunga road has also been closed and residents in the nearby buildings evacuated. A counselling center has been set up at city stadium.

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