Nation reporters have counted 73 badly burnt bodies at the scene of a huge fire at a slum in Nairobi's industrial area.
Police sources say the toll of the dead is likely to breach 100 following fire triggered after a oil leaking from a pipeline spilled into the Sinai slum.
"We are putting the number of dead at over 100, we are waiting for body bags to put the victims into," said Thomas Atuti, area police commander.
The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) confirmed that 112 people were admitted there with third degree burns as of 1.30pm.
The Sinai slums sit on top of a pipeline that feeds a fuel depot off Lunga Lunga road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
"There had been a leak in the fuel pipeline earlier, and people were going to collect the fuel that was coming out," said Joseph Mwego, a resident.
"Then there was a loud bang, a big explosion, and smoke and fire burst up high."
Wide area
NTV reporter Kaara Wainaina told Nation.co.ke that the fire covered a wide area in the slum. A detachment from the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) have cordoned off huge area affected by the fire and nearby roads have been closed to traffic.
Nearby buildings were evacuated and office workers asked to move away from the area.
Several ambulances were seen leaving the area ferrying away victims. They were taken to Mater Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Many residents were caught up in the blaze, and an AFP reporter at the scene counted scores of charred bodies around the fire.
"People were trying to scoop fuel from the pipeline," a Red Cross official told AFP by telephone, adding that the organisation had sent a team to the scene of the fire.
Firefighters sprayed chemical foam to try to contain the fire, while both police and GSU officers roped off the area and pushed people back from the area.
President Kibaki sent a message of condolence to the families, relatives and friends of those who perished in the fire.
The President expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved families and prayed to God to give them the courage and strength to bear the tragic loss. He wished those admitted in hospital following the fire accident quick recovery.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi later visited the scene.
Mr Odinga said the spill was caused by a broken gasket on the pipeline.
In 2009, 122 people were killed after a fire erupted while they were drawing fuel from an overturned tanker in western Kenya.
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