ELDORET, Kenya — Two people have died, and 14 others sustained injuries after a petroleum tanker exploded along the Eldoret-Turbo road near Paul Boit Secondary School on Thursday night.
The two fatalities are suspected to have occurred after people rushed to the scene and attempted to collect fuel from the tanker following the accident.
The explosion triggered a mass casualty response, with emergency teams deployed to the scene to assist victims and secure the area.
Kenya Red Cross Responds
The Kenya Red Cross Society confirmed it had activated an emergency response following the incident.
“Kenya Red Cross is on the ground responding in collaboration with Kenya Police and firefighters,” the organisation said in a post on X at about 10:30pm.
The Red Cross did not immediately provide details on the number of casualties when it first announced its response.
Police, firefighters and emergency personnel were subsequently involved in the response as efforts continued to assist those affected.
14 Injured in Explosion
Fourteen people were injured in the incident, according to reports from the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the injuries were not immediately clear, although the explosion occurred after the petroleum tanker was involved in an accident along the busy highway.
The injured were taken for medical attention as emergency teams worked to manage the situation.
The condition of those injured was not immediately disclosed.
Motorists Warned to Avoid Area
Motorists were advised to avoid the affected section of the Eldoret-Turbo road to allow emergency responders to access the scene without obstruction.
The road is a key transport route linking Eldoret with Turbo and areas towards Webuye, making the incident likely to affect traffic flow as emergency and security operations continue.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the tanker accident and subsequent explosion.
Fuel Collection Suspected to Have Led to Deaths
Initial reports indicate that the two people who died may have been among those who approached the tanker to collect fuel after the crash.
Authorities have yet to release a detailed account of what triggered the explosion or establish the identities of those who died.
The investigation into the incident is expected to determine how the tanker crashed, whether fuel leaked and the events that preceded the explosion.
Emergency agencies continued operations at the scene as authorities worked to secure the highway and assist affected motorists and residents.
