NAIROBI, Kenya — A major fire broke out at Yare Plaza, a shopping mall in Eastleigh, on Tuesday, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Witnesses said scores of people were feared trapped inside the building as flames engulfed parts of the structure.
Dramatic scenes unfolded as some occupants scrambled to escape.
In one instance, a man was seen climbing out of the burning building using an electrical earthing wire.
The Nairobi City County Government deployed a fire engine from its Fire Department to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjacent buildings.
Police officers also arrived to support rescue operations and manage crowds.
Authorities had not confirmed casualties or the cause of the fire by the time of publication. Rescue efforts were ongoing.
Businesses Count Losses
Traders operating within the mall attempted to salvage goods as the inferno raged.
Several entrepreneurs are now counting losses, with property worth millions of shillings believed to have been destroyed.
The incident comes barely a month after a business plaza on Luthuli Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District went up in flames on January 6, after a fire reportedly started on the upper floors.
The back-to-back incidents have renewed concerns about fire safety compliance in commercial buildings across the city.
Legal Safety Requirements
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Fire Risk Reduction Rules 2007, all business premises are required to install and maintain functional fire-fighting equipment.
These include serviced fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and alarm systems. Failure to comply with the regulations attracts penalties of up to Sh500,000.
Residents and business owners have called for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards and regular inspections to prevent similar disasters.
Investigations into the cause of the Yare Plaza fire are ongoing.
