Nyeri gas depot fire death toll rises to six
The death toll in cooking gas depot fire in Nyeri rose to six on Friday after two of the three admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital succumbed to burns.
The two patients transferred from the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital had lost most of their epidermal skin in the fire, said Dr Aref Ismail, a special consultant in reconstructive and plastic surgery.
The doctor said they died due to kidney failure and destruction of the lungs caused by inhaled heat.
The third patient is in a stable but critical state at the ICU.
The depot, located near residential houses at Kiunyu village in Tetu, did not exist in the Energy Regulatory Commission’s records, according to an official who spoke to the press.
“We have come here to inspect it and find out what has been happening. We only learnt the facility is in existence following the tragedy,” said the official, who cannot be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press.
In Nyeri, the team from the ERC was among dozens of government officials who visited the area, situated about five kilometres from Giakanja trading centre on the Nyeri-Othaya road. The teams are to establish how the company managed to operate without the right papers.
Central provincial environmental director Wachira Bore said the licensing of the gas depot was being handled in Nairobi.
However, Nema director of Enforcement Benjamin Langwen referred the Saturday Nation to Mr Bore, saying he would know whether the facility was licensed or not.
Nema requires businesses that may have an impact on the environment carry out an environmental impact assessment to establish whether they are hazardous.
(Additional reporting by KNA)
