Nairobi-Mombasa road blocked at Chyulu Hills after gas leak
Scene of the fiery collision at Chyulu Hills in Tsavo on March 13, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- In Twitter posts, the National Police Service also asked motorists to make diversions at Emali and Voi amid fears of heavy morning traffic.
“Those from Nairobi heading to Mombasa should divert at Emali and take the Loitoktok- Taveta Road then head to Voi,” police said.
The busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway has been blocked at Chyulu Hills after two trucks collided at 2am Tuesday.
Police warned of a gas leak and fire from the truck that was ferrying liquefied petroleum gas and asked motorists and the public to keep off the scene.
FIRE
“The leaking gas is highly flammable hence all other persons, except emergency services providers, are advised to stay (sic) clear of the scene,” the police said.
In Twitter posts, the National Police Service also asked motorists to make diversions at Emali and Voi amid fears of heavy morning traffic.
“Those from Nairobi heading to Mombasa should divert at Emali and take the Loitoktok- Taveta Road then head to Voi,” police said.
Flames on the tanker that was ferrying LPG before it collided with a truck carrying a 40-foot container at Chyulu Hills in Tsavo on March 13, 2018. PHOTO | COURTESY
“Those traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi to divert at Voi and take Taveta- Loitoktok- Emali Road to Nairobi.”
Some of the gas caught fire after the tanker collided with a truck ferrying a 40-foot container.
DELAYS
No casualties were reported at the time of publishing this article.
“We caution members of the public using the road to expect delays and obey instructions from the Police diverting traffic,” police said, adding that efforts were under way to clear the scene and open up the road.
In December 2017, the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway was closed for almost 12 hours after a massive gas leak from a tanker at Gitaru, near Kikuyu.
The leak was attributed to malfunctioning of a lid on the tanker.
This contrasted with a disaster in 2016 in Naivasha when a lorry carrying petroleum products from Mombasa to Kampala rammed several vehicles before bursting into flames.
Some 39 people died and scores of others were seriously injured in the crash that hit international headlines.
