Two Killed, 22 Injured After Fuel Tanker Explodes In Western Kenya

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Two people have died and 22 others are being treated in hospital after a petroleum tanker exploded on a major highway in western Kenya, authorities said.

The tanker caught fire on Thursday night along the Eldoret-Turbo Road near Paul Boit Secondary School after being involved in an accident.

The two people who died are suspected to have been among those who approached the damaged tanker and attempted to collect fuel before the explosion.

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Chief Executive Officer Dr Philip Kirwa said on Friday that 22 survivors had been admitted for treatment.

Seven patients are in critical condition after suffering burns covering between 40 and 50 per cent of their bodies. Three have been placed on ventilators after being unable to breathe independently, while four others are being closely monitored.

The hospital is preparing for the possibility of receiving more casualties as emergency teams continue responding to the incident.

The Kenya Red Cross said it had activated a mass-casualty response, with its teams working alongside police and firefighters at the scene.

Fuel tanker accidents have previously raised safety concerns in Kenya, where people sometimes gather around overturned or damaged tankers to collect spilled fuel. Such incidents can turn deadly when leaking petroleum products ignite.

The circumstances that led to Thursday night’s explosion, including the cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage, remain under investigation.

Emergency and security teams remain at the scene as authorities assess the incident.