At least two killed, 10 evacuated after petrol tanker fire along Eldoret-Bungoma Highway

At least two individuals lost their lives and ten others were evacuated following a petrol tanker fire near Paul Boit Secondary School on the Eldoret-Turbo road in Uasin Gishu County. Police recovered two bodies from the scene on Friday morning following the incident. The victims had rushed to the location to collect the fuel that had spilled after the tanker broke down before the fire ignited.

This incident occurred on Thursday night and sparked a mass casualty response, raising concerns about potential injuries or fatalities from an explosion. The Kenya Red Cross deployed teams to the scene and collaborated with the Kenya Police Service and firefighters to manage the situation. "Kenya Red Cross is on the ground responding in collaboration with Kenya Police and firefighters," the organization announced on X at approximately 10:30 pm on Thursday.

The fire was reportedly under control by around 4 am on Friday after a multi-agency response. However, the exact cause of the fire remained unknown, and the number of casualties had not been definitively confirmed. Authorities urged motorists to avoid the affected section of the Eldoret-Bungoma Highway to facilitate unhindered access for emergency teams during rescue operations and investigations.

Multi-agency teams continued to assess the site and determine the circumstances leading to the incident. The latest event has reignited discussions about the safety of petroleum tankers on Kenyan roads and the dangers posed by fires and explosions involving highly flammable fuel.