Eyewitness recalls panic after fuel tanker explosion

Panic erupted along Nairobi’s Southern Bypass on Saturday after a fuel tanker caught fire following a collision near the Swaminarayan Tunnel Bridge.

Ethan Kariuki, a resident of Trident Park, described a scene of chaos as the tanker erupted in flames on impact.

“People were so panicked, like everyone was just moving,” he said. “So I saw this whole thing happen. It’s an oil truck. So it blew up on impact. There was a big fire. It came, spread down, even to where the underpass is. People were panicking, so they left. I dropped my family out.”

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Kariuki said the fire burned for an extended period and exploded multiple times.

“The fire was there for a really long time, actually. It blew up a couple of times. We were wondering what’s going on, why people are not coming. We tried calling emergency services, by the way, and it wasn’t even being answered (at that time),” he added.

He also described the aftermath of the crash. “The head of the truck fell down. The truck was left on top, the oil truck. I don’t think it survived… it was just a big mess. The fire was huge. It formed like a cloud on top as well. Right now is when things are calming down. But I don’t think the driver survived that. Hopefully, he did. I really hope he did.”

Authorities later confirmed that at least one person had died as a result of the accident. Lang’ata Sub-County Police Commander Pius Mwanthi said the deceased was one of the two drivers involved in the crash.

“The accident has claimed one life involving the driver of the lorry carrying flour, while the tanker driver was taken to hospital,” he stated.

The collision involved a lorry carrying bales of flour and a fuel tanker. Following the impact, the tanker slid into the bridge and ignited, sparking a large fire.

Emergency services, including firefighters, Red Cross personnel, and police officers, were deployed to contain the blaze, manage traffic, and prevent further hazards from spilt fuel.

Mwanthi said the scene is now being cleared.

Police had to disperse onlookers who gathered at the scene, citing the risk of a secondary explosion.

Authorities warned that fuel-related accidents remain extremely dangerous. Similar incidents have in the past led to multiple fatalities, including a 2009 tanker accident in Sachangwan, Nakuru County, which killed more than 100 people.

The Southern Bypass, a key artery for Nairobi traffic, was temporarily closed as emergency crews worked to bring the situation under control. Drivers were advised to avoid the area until the scene was cleared.