Biodun.BBC: BREAKING: Kenya : Several dead in Nairobi market fire

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Media captionRescue workers and traders assess the damage after the fire at Gikomba market

by Natalie Duval and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Nairobi

At least 15 people have been killed in a fire at a market in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

More than 70 people were injured in the blaze, which broke out in the middle of the night destroying many properties.

Gikomba is one of the largest open-air markets in the city and fires there are frequent, leading to speculation about possible arson attacks, The Standard newspaper says.

However, the cause of the current fire is not yet known.

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The St John Ambulance service said the fire broke out at 02:30 local time (23:30 GMT on Wednesday) and spread to apartments and market stalls before being contained after about 90 minutes.

Riot police evict traders at the smouldering scene of fire that gutted Gikomba market, Nairobi, Kenya - 28 June 2018 — Image captionThe pre-dawn blaze destroyed many stalls where clothes, shoes and vegetables were sold

Riot police at the scene of the Gikomba market fire, Nairobi, Kenya - 28 June 2018 — Image captionRiot police are at the scene where traders have gathered to view the damage

Some of the victims were burned while others inhaled poisonous fumes as they tried to salvage their property.

Hospital officials said there were four children among the dead.

Pictures from Reuters news agency showed people searching the wreckage and ash.

The injured have been rushed to different hospitals across the city.

One woman told us at the BBC that she is still searching for her sister. "When I got to the scene, the fire had already spread to her house," said Millicent Achieng.

"She told me she was inside her flat and there was so much smoke that she couldn't move. Her child was with her."

Ms Achieng said she pleaded with the security guard to open the gate to building, but he refused - saying he had been instructed by the landlord to lock it to "keep looters out".

Image captionMillicent Achieng is desperately searching for her sister

Ms Achieng said she tried to reach her sister unsuccessfully by phone several more times.

"Now calls aren't going through," she said.

"At dawn I asked my brother to go look for her in the hospitals but he couldn't find her. We don't know if my sister is among those who were burned beyond recognition."