Humanitarian

Kenya mourns fire dead.

01 Feb, 2009

At least 111 people died in the Molo district in Rift Valley province on 1 February after an overturned petrol tanker exploded in circumstances that are still unclear.

Hundreds of men, women and children were gathered around the vehicle trying to collect spilled fuel when the blast occurred. The over 180 injured were transported to local hospitals or airlifted to Nairobi and many are in a critical condition.

Some sources say the fire began accidentally, possibly due to a lit cigarette, while others claim it was started deliberately after police tried to charge people money for accessing the petrol.

The tragedy comes just four days after at least 27 people died in a fire in Nakumatt Downtown supermarket in central Nairobi.

The government has declared a week of mourning for the victims of the two fires. As of 2 February flags will fly at half mast throughout the country and all official functions have been postponed.