Several Cars Burnt along Nairobi-Mai Mahiu Road as Trailer Transporting Gas Cylinders Explodes

A section of the Nairobi-Mai Mahiu road was on Sunday afternoon barricaded after a truck ferrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exploded.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) urged motorists using the busy highway to use alternative routes following the incident that left at least five cars burnt and scores of people injured.

The State highways agency said efforts were underway to put off the fire and clear the road. 

“Following the explosion of a lorry carrying LPG gas at Mutarakwa Shopping Center along the Limuru –  Maai Mahiu road, motorists are advised to use alternative routes as efforts are underway to clear the road for normal use,” KeNHA said in a statement.

Reports say the trailer was involved in an accident at around 6:00 am, but it burst into flames in the process of trying to remove it from the road.

Four private cars were among vehicles that were reduced to ashes by the huge fire that also burned trees and vegetation in its vicinity. The exact number of those injured during the fire remains unknown.

"Hii lorry ilianguka hapa around saa kumi na mbili asubuhi, lakini sababu hatuko mbali  na police post ya Mutarakwa, polisi wakakuja wakaondoa watu. Wakati wa kuinua ile trailer, sababu ni ile trailer ya kubeba gas, na haikuwa imefunga barabara, ndio tukaskia mlipuko, sasa hatujui kama ilikuwa na leakage," a witness, told Citizen Digital.