Panic gripped Donholm estate in Nairobi on Friday morning after gas cylinders at a depot exploded, sparking a massive fire near a petrol station and a popular eatery.
Residents said they woke up to a series of loud explosions that sent shockwaves across the densely populated neighbourhood, forcing families to flee their homes for safety.
Witnesses reported that the fire is suspected to have started after one of the gas cylinders, believed to have been full and leaking, ignited. The flames quickly spread to a nearby gas cylinder depot, triggering multiple explosions as cylinders detonated one after another.
“If you have never heard multiple gas cylinders exploding, that is a sound you don’t want to wake up to,” one resident posted on X.
Another witness said: “Felt like bombs were going off in the hood. The fire started at my local chips kuku joint, hit the clinic next, then started the fireworks at the gas cylinder shop.”
Flying gas cylinders and debris shattered windows of nearby buildings, damaged vehicles, and sent terrified residents running for dear lives. Many rushed to their windows after hearing the blasts, capturing images and videos of the inferno as flames lit up the sky.
Authorities moved swiftly to cordon off the main access road into New Donholm to allow emergency operations and restrict movement around the affected area.
Photos seen by The Star show Nairobi City County fire engines deployed at the scene as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
Nairobi police boss George Seda said it was too early to confirm whether there were casualties, noting that experts were on the ground to establish the cause of the explosion and assess the extent of damage.
Residents have since called for stricter safety inspections on eateries, gas depots, and fuel stations operating in close proximity within residential areas.
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