over 100 deaths in Kenya pipeline fire

More than 100 people were killed in a fuel pipeline fire in the slum area in Nairobi, capital of Kenya on Monday, media quoted a local police as saying.

Earlier reports said dozens of Kenyans were injured after an underground oil pipeline burst and spilled to a slum near a fuel depot in Nairobi's Industrial Area.

A Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) official said explosion occurred when some the slum residents rushed to scoop the spilled oil while smoking before firefighters rushed to the scene. "One of our pipeline burst near the fuel depot off Kunga Lunga Road in Industrial Area, causing an oil spill which went undetected for hours as it spilled to nearby Sinai slum. It exploded when residents who were smoking rushed to fetch the oil causing injuries," said the official who declined to confirm the number of casualties told Xinhua by telephone.

She said the company would issue a statement later.

KENYA PIPELINE FIRE

Nation reporters have counted 73 badly burnt bodies at the scene of a huge fire at a slum in Nairobi's industrial area.

Police sources say the toll of the dead is likely to breach 100.

Emergency services were scrambled early on Monday as a huge fire went off at Sinai slums near a fuel depot off Lunga Lunga road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.

Witnesses said oil leakage from a pipeline feeding a Kenya Pipeline petroleum depot that neighbours the slum.

NTV reporter Kaara Wainaina told Nation.co.ke that the fire covered a wide area in the slum. A detachment from the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) have cordoned off huge area affected by the fire and nearby roads have been closed to traffic.

Nearby buildings were evacuated and office workers asked to move away from the area.

Several ambulances were seen leaving the area ferrying away victims. They were taken to Mater Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.

More details soon.