Five die in Mombasa Old Town early morning fire
Five people among them a couple and a nine-year-old boy they were living with died following a fire incident that occurred in the congested Kibokoni area of Old Town in Mombasa county yesterday morning.
Three casualties were hospitalised at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in critical condition, Kenya Red Cross Coordinator in Mombasa county Mohamed Rajab said.
Rajab said preliminary findings established the fire which started at around 9am could have been caused by an explosion of a cooking gas cylinder. “From what we have gathered, is that a woman was preparing breakfast when a gas cylinder she was using exploded, prompting the inferno. However, a thorough inspection must be done to establish the real cause of the incident,” Rajab said.
He said the nature of the affected structures characterised by wooden partitions and staircases might have accelerated the spread of the inferno, which razed down three houses. “The incident occurred in those old houses, which were designed with wooden parts. The staircases are wooden and it appears after the staircase caught fire, the victims were unable to escape. Two bodies were found in the toilet and others in the rooms. But it is difficult to identify the rooms because the partitions were razed down. The bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” Rajab said.
