Video: Huge fire erupts at Lotus House near Afya Centre, people feared trapped
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- A fire broke out at Lotus House near Afya Centre in Nairobi's CBD on Monday, August 3, sending panic through the area
- Preliminary reports indicated that several people may have been trapped inside the building as emergency responders raced to the scene
- Initial attempts to extinguish the blaze using fire extinguishers failed, with locals struggling to access the building due to the intensity of the flames
Nairobi - A fire broke out at Lotus House, a commercial building situated near Afya Centre in Nairobi's Central Business District, on Monday, 3 August, triggering panic among residents and business owners in the area.
Preliminary reports reaching TUKO.co.ke indicated that several people may have been trapped inside the building at the time emergency responders arrived at the scene.
Blaze Originates on First Floor
Images obtained by TUKO.co.ke from the scene showed the fire burning primarily from the first floor of Lotus House.
Initial attempts to bring the blaze under control using fire extinguishers proved unsuccessful, and locals encountered significant difficulty trying to access the interior of the building given the severity of the fire.
The cause of the outbreak had not been established at the time of reporting, though the flames appeared to spread rapidly in the minutes following the initial outbreak.
Lotus House hosts a mix of small commercial offices, private business agencies and retail outlets. Its first floor has historically been occupied by private corporate offices and company suites.
Traffic and Safety Concerns
The fire disrupted traffic along Tom Mboya Street, one of the CBD's busiest thoroughfares, as large crowds gathered to observe firefighters working to contain the blaze.
Concerns were also raised in the immediate aftermath that the fire could spread to a nearby petrol station bordering the well-known Afya Centre complex, adding urgency to the response efforts.
Emergency responders were at the scene as the situation continued to develop.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.