๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ-๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐
Photo Courtesy of KBC Digital
Two people have been confirmed dead and 10 others have been taken to hospital after a petroleum tanker exploded in the Juakali area near Paul Boit Secondary School along the Eldoret-Webuye Road in Uasin Gishu County.
The incident happened on Thursday night, September 17, after the tanker overturned along the busy highway and later burst into flames.
Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Wilberforce Sichirani confirmed that two bodies had been recovered, with search and recovery operations continuing to establish the full extent of the casualties.
The two victims were reportedly burnt beyond recognition, while several survivors suffered serious burns and were rushed to different health facilities.
Some of the critically injured were taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for specialised treatment.
Preliminary reports indicate that a number of people had gathered around the tanker after it overturned, reportedly attempting to collect fuel that was spilling from the vehicle before the fire broke out.
However, police had not established the exact circumstances that caused the tanker to catch fire, with investigations continuing.
The Kenya Red Cross described the incident as a mass casualty event and deployed emergency response teams to the scene alongside police and firefighters.
โA mass casualty incident has occurred along the Eldoret-Webuye Road near Paul Boit Secondary School, following a petroleum tanker explosion,โ the Kenya Red Cross said.
The humanitarian organisation said its teams were working with other emergency responders to evacuate victims and provide assistance at the scene.
At least 10 casualties were evacuated to various hospitals with the help of well-wishers, county ambulance services, firefighters and Kenya Red Cross emergency teams.
The explosion also disrupted traffic along the Eldoret-Webuye highway as emergency teams responded to the incident and worked to secure the area.
