VIDEO: How Rasta man in Mutarakwa LPG tanker fire escaped death

Elias Karanja says he was on the farm when the accident happened. [George Njunge, Standard]

The  Rastaman whose photo went viral after the LPG fire accident in Mutarakwa on Sunday February 13 has been identified as 52-year-old Elias Karanja.

A day after the fire in Mutarakwa on the Nairobi-Limuru highway, The Standard team went back to the sleepy village of Kamirithu to look for the Rastaman and find out details of what exactly transpired before the LPG fire explosion that destroyed three trucks, six cars and several houses.  

Property destroyed

Speaking exclusively on video, Karanja said despite there being no fatalities, villagers had suffered massive losses after property of unknown value was destroyed by the fire. 

“I thank God because I am still alive, and nobody died from the fire which is not bad at all. We tried our best to save some property but to no avail,” Karanja says in Swahili.

According to Karanja, the fire started at around 1 pm but it was not until 5 pm that it was completely put out.

Karanja, a farmer at Kamirithu village, says he was at the farm when he heard a loud bang. “We were working on the farm then suddenly I heard a loud bang. We rushed to the scene to help. This was before the fire broke,” he said.

When he got to the scene, he climbed the truck that had been ferrying the LPG cylinders. While he and others were trying to help, the tanker burst into flames throwing him to a nearby farm. His body had caught fire. 

Firefighters putting out the inferno. [George Njunge, Standard]

“Some of our products in the farm are now cooked (sic) because, at that point, everyone was just trying to save themselves including me,” he said jokingly.

Burn wounds

Karanja sustained burns on his hands and the back of his head. Parts of his clothes especially the back and shoulder of his pullover were also burnt. Burn blisters are visible on his arms and the dorsal. 

“I witnessed it all with my two eyes. No one perished in the incident. The fire was big; I have never seen such an inferno. About eight or nine cars were completely consumed by the fire,” he said.

Residents flock to the scene after the fire was put off. [George Njunge, Standard]

Witness accounts

Witness reports say the LPG truck had earlier been involved in an accident at around 6 am. The fire started hours later as LPG cylinders that were also being transported by the same truck, were being offloaded during rescue efforts that involved a boom crane.

Antony Gitonga, Limuru Deputy Sub-County Police Commander confirmed there was leakage from the tank, followed by an explosion where three trailers and six cars were burnt. He also said good samaritans rushed injured persons to PCEA Kikuyu hospital even though the extent of injuries has not been confirmed.