News
Nakumatt: 16 dead, dozens missing
Crime scene investigators go through the debris of the burnt down Nakumatt supermarket on Friday. Photo/CHRIS OJOW.
Posted Friday, January 30 2009 at 11:20
In Summary
- Red Cross report 47 missing on Friday.
- Recovery process ongoing.
- President Kibaki visits the tragic scene.
The number of people who died in the Wednesday fire at a Nairobi supermarket has risen to 16.
The operation to retrieve the remains of people that were trapped in the burnt down retail store has so far recovered 16 remains of people.
Police spokesman has confirmed to a Nation journalist the number of the dead. The number is likely to go up as the recovery process goes on.
Police have placed identification marks on the remains.
Dozens are still missing from Wednesday's inferno with Red Cross putting the number at 47. The number includes those confirmed dead.
President Kibaki arrived at the scene at 2.25pm and was taken round by Police Commissioner Hussein Ali. He was accompanied by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Cooperatives minister Joe Nyagah and other government officials.
The President made a short address to the crowd gathered.
"The government will assist the bereaved families in every way we can."
''We also pray that God will help the families who have lost their loved ones. I also call on Kenyans who can assist to do so."
Police at the scene are using sniffer dogs to as they go through the debris.
The supermarket, on Nairobi’s Kenyatta Avenue, caught fire on Wednesday at 2.45pm.
Firefighters battled the inferno, which was fuelled by explosions believed to be from gas cylinders, for hours. Thick smoke billowed from the buildings and quickly spread to most of Kimathi and Kenyatta Avenue Streets.
On Friday, The Red Cross reported that 47 people, who were either staff of the supermarket or shoppers, were missing.
The emergency relief organisation has erected a tent where distraught relatives reported missing their kin. It also serves as a counselling centre.
Of the 47 missing, five were employees of the retail chain.
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Submitted by Anonymous authorPosted January 31, 2009 05:19 AM
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Submitted by easydogg
How can a someone see a building burning and still insist on customers lining up to pay. As for coming up Kenyan interpreneurs eg tuskys make kenyans proud by learning from such mistake and build with customer safety considerations. If one decides to invest in kenya one must ensure that the customers safety is paramount at all times. I am sure the business was insured so the owners will get every penny they lost while many kenyans have to live with what happened.
Posted January 31, 2009 02:37 AM -
Submitted by johnnjora
This is really sad, our leaders are just fighting for power while MPS are busy working out ways of stealing more thru. maize, oil and other scandals. I could be wrong but someone is gonna make money out of this Nakumatt thing. we all know the role Nakumatt played in last year's violence, and now they come again, looks like they are making some human sacrifices
Posted January 31, 2009 02:10 AM -
Submitted by Igiwe
One can only wonder where our tax money goes to if we cannot have a well equipped fire department. As a thought, if that happened to such a store located just a stones throw away from the NCC fire department, how about if it happened at a residential area in that city? It is clear how the economics of corruption work. Such a beautiful country in such tragedy, what a shame to our leadership, that's if they ever cared.
Posted January 30, 2009 11:50 PM -
Submitted by kagzz
My take on this incident is that the government needs to lay down safety rules and regulations nationwide for all types of buildings and business - from schools, hospitals, restaurants, public and private buildings etc. These regulations should provide adequate safety measures such as mandatory exit routes,frequent fire drills (mocking a real fire), fire clinics, ensure availability of fire extinguishers etc. This is a tragedy that can be avoided or atleast eliminate such great losses of life and property.
Posted January 30, 2009 10:44 PM
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I concur with every ones statements but some foreigners I know think Africans are stupid. I try to defend myself as much as possible but when some Africans do stupid things like this - locking people in burning buildings to save a few shillings then I get an epiphany and suddenly understand why they think we are stupid. Our politicians allow people to mistreat us in our own country and they still treat us like third class citizens.