Two people have died in Kirinyaga County following a fuel tanker explosion along the River Sagana area, in a tragic incident that disrupted transport along the busy Nairobi-Nyeri Highway.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The victims were reportedly involved in transporting the fuel tanker when the explosion occurred under unclear circumstances, killing them on the spot on Thursday night.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the blaze, preventing what officials said could have been further fatalities.

Their swift response helped contain the fire, which had threatened to spread along the highway and nearby roadside structures.

📌 What You Need to Know

The incident caused the Nairobi-Nyeri Highway to be temporarily close d following the incident, paralysing traffic between Nairobi and Nyeri.

Motorists were forced to use a single lane as emergency teams worked to secure the affected stretch of road.

The incident also caused major disruption along the Sagana-Karatina-Kagio and Mwea-Embu routes, with some drivers reversing and seeking alternative roads due to thick smoke and intense flames.

Firefighters from Murang’a County were deployed and later managed to bring the fire under control after an intense operation.

During the incident, traffic remained gridlocked for more than an hour before officers from Sagana traffic police arrived to restore order and redirect motorists.

Investigations are currently ongoing to establish the cause of the explosion, which remains unclear at this stage.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke