Several people are feared dead after a petroleum tanker exploded along the Eldoret-Turbo Road near Paul Boit Secondary School.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, September 17, prompting the Kenya Red Cross to activate a mass casualty response as emergency teams moved to the scene.
“Kenya Red Cross is on the ground responding in collaboration with Kenya Police and firefighters,” the organisation said in a post on X at around 10:30 pm.
The Kenya Red Cross had not immediately confirmed the number of people killed or injured as emergency operations continued.
Footage obtained by Vantage Ke showed the flames burning bright from a far distance while onlookers watched the tragedy unfold in horror.
Eyewitnesses reported that people crowded to fetch free fuel from the scene of the crashed tanker, with some smoking cigarettes at the scene.
There are concerns that some residents who had reportedly rushed to the scene to collect the spilled fuel may have been trapped in the blaze when the tanker exploded.
Police officers and rescue teams have since arrived at the scene and are responding to the incident. The exact circumstances of the accident had not been confirmed by police by the time of publication.
Motorists were advised to keep away from the affected section of the road to give emergency responders clear access as they worked to manage the situation.
Kenya has experienced several deadly fuel tanker explosions over the years, with some of the incidents involving members of the public who gathered at accident scenes to collect spilled fuel.
One of the country's most devastating tanker disasters occurred in Sachangwan, Molo, in February 2009. A fuel tanker overturned along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway and began leaking petrol. Residents and motorists reportedly gathered around the vehicle to collect the spilled fuel before the tanker exploded. The resulting fire killed more than 100 people and left dozens of others with serious burns.
Another major incident occurred in Siaya County in July 2021, when a fuel tanker was involved in an accident along the Kisumu-Busia road near Malanga. Residents reportedly rushed to the scene to siphon fuel from the damaged tanker before it caught fire. At least 13 people were killed, while more than 20 others sustained burn injuries.
Fuel tanker fires have also been reported in Sachangwan and other sections of the Nakuru-Eldoret highway, a major transport corridor used by trucks carrying petroleum products. The incidents have repeatedly highlighted the dangers posed by leaking tankers, particularly when crowds gather around vehicles carrying highly flammable fuel.
In 2020, another tanker-related fire was recorded in the Sachangwan area, resulting in deaths and numerous injuries.
The recurring incidents have prompted warnings from authorities and emergency agencies against approaching overturned tankers or attempting to collect spilled petroleum products. Fuel vapour can ignite quickly, while seemingly minor sources of ignition, including vehicle engines, mobile equipment or open flames, can trigger a major blaze.
The incidents have also underscored the risks faced by motorists, residents, emergency responders and other road users whenever petroleum tankers are involved in accidents.
As investigations are set to commence into the latest tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Turbo Road near Paul Boit Secondary School, authorities are expected to establish the circumstances of the accident and confirm the number of casualties.
