Embakasi Residents Evacuate as Precaution After Gas Leak Concerns
On Monday, February 5, 2024, residents of Mradi Village in Embakasi, Nairobi County, evacuated their homes as a precautionary measure due to concerns about a potential gas leak. This incident occurred just days after a devastating gas explosion in the same area that claimed six lives and injured over 300 people.
Nairobi County’s Disaster Management Chief Officer, Bramwell Simiyu, reassured the public that the area was quickly secured after reports of the potential leak. Authorities are currently investigating the source of theconcerns and ensuring the safety of residents in the area.
The explosion is linked to illegal LPG refilling and storage operations, highlighting the dangerous disregard for safety standards and legal requirements in such facilities.
The situation was further complicated by the revelation that the site had previously been condemned by Epra and demolished twice for operating illegally, with the owner charged in March 2023.
Despite this, operations continued, underscoring the challenge of combating illegal and unsafe practices in such critical sectors.
President William ruto called for accountability of the situation to ensure such disasters do not recur.
