VIDEO: Gas blast in Kenyan capital Nairobi kills 2, injures 222; locals say 'felt tremors after explosion'

At least two people have been killed and more than 222 injured after gas blast in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

Video of the gas explosion in Nairobi showed a huge fire raging close to blocks of flats. Local media reports cited locals saying that they had felt tremors immediately after the blast.

WATCH: Massive gas explosion in Nairobi, Kenya. At least 2 dead, 167 injured. Death toll expected to rise pic.twitter.com/cfle9onXYT

— BNO News (@BNONews) February 2, 2024

Source: X/@BNONews

The blast occurred at Kentainers Company ltd near Kabansora in Embakasi district of Nairobi just before midnight, around 21:00 GMT (2:30 am IST). The government said, gas cylinders were refilled at the plant when the incident took place.

BREAKING: Gas station explodes in Nairobi, Kenya. At least 165 injured, rescue work ongoing pic.twitter.com/M9SktooFdF

— BNO News (@BNONews) February 2, 2024

Source: X/@BNONews

"The company was refilling gas cylinders when fire broke out and several people [were] injured and rushed to hospital," Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"The building hosting the company is badly damaged... Members of the public are advised to avoid the area as rescue operations are underway including fire engines being deployed to the area," he added.

UPDATE: EMBAKASI FIRE INCIDENT

There has been a fire outbreak at Kentainers Company ltd near Kabansora in Embakasi, Nairobi.

The company was refilling gas cylinders when fire broke out and several people injured and rushed to hospital. The building hosting the company is…

— Dr. Isaac Mwaura CBS (@MwauraIsaac1) February 1, 2024

Cause of explosion in Nairobi

In a post on Friday, Isaac Mwaura said: "One Lorry of an unknown registration number that was loaded with gas exploded, igniting a huge ball of fire that spread widely. A flying gas cylinder hit Oriental Godown, burning down the said godown which deals with garments and textiles."

"Consequently, the inferno further damaged several vehicles and commercial properties, including many small and medium sized businesses. Sadly, residential houses in the neighborhood also caught fire, with a good number of residents still inside as it was late at night," he added.

SECOND UPDATE ON THE EMBAKASI GAS EXPLOSION FIRE INCIDENT

Further to our earlier communication, the government of Kenya wishes to confirm that yesterday Thursday 1st February 2024, at around 11:30 pm, there was a huge explosion at Mradi area, in Embakasi, Nairobi County.

One…

— Dr. Isaac Mwaura CBS (@MwauraIsaac1) February 2, 2024

Kenyans restricted from visiting the site

Isaac Mwaura further said adviced Kenyans to keep off the cordoned area in order to allow the rescue mission to be carried out minimal disruptions.

Meanwhile, Kenyan Red Cross in a post on X said 271 people have been "successfully evacuated" and were rushed to different health facilities in Nairobi. A further 27 people were assessed at the scene, it added.

Update: The concerted actions of various response units have resulted in the successful evacuation of 271 individuals to different health facilities in Nairobi.

Furthermore, @EMS_Kenya, in coordination with the Kenya Red Cross action team, promptly attended to an extra 27… https://t.co/pQO9jUqoxl

— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) February 2, 2024

In another post, the Kenya Red Cross crews had been "tirelessly battling the flames" and it had taken 29 people to the Kenyatta National Hospital.