Accidents claim eight, 200 survive tanker fire

A ball of fire a¬fter a fuel tanker exploded at Mukhonje centre along the Malaba-Eldoret road yesterday. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Eight people died in separate accidents while 200 football fans escaped death narrowly after a tanker exploded. 

The tanker accident at Mukhonje trading centre on the Eldoret-Webuye highway killed three people on Friday and led to fire that razed down a nearby video den.

Peter Mulupi, the owner of the video den, said fans had just finished watching the match between Manchester United and Arsenal that ended around 1.30pm when the accidents occurred.

“A little while later, the accident occurred and fire razed the video room,” said Mulupi, who also lost a furniture workshop.

The accident reportedly occurred after the tanker ferrying diesel to Uganda veered off the road and hit a bus from behind.

Two of the victims died on the spot and the third one succumbed on the way to hospital. They were the driver, conductor and a woman.

“Fire was spreading very first and a UN tanker from South Sudan that had parked on the other side of the road caught fire. The driver and conductor were sleeping but we rescued them. They are in critical condition,” said Nathan Nyongesa, a witness.

Faustine Nambande, a tenant who was rescued, said she only salvaged clothes and food stuffs.

“We were woken up by Good Samaritans. As we were rescuing our children and a few belongings, other people were stealing our valuables,” said Nambande.

Matete Sub County police chief Justus Irungu Maina said fire fighters from West Kenya Sugar Company and the County Government of Bungoma arrived on time and helped put out the fire. And a matatu and a lorry collided, killing five people at Kiriani along Meru-Embu highway.

Four people died on the spot while one succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at Chogoria Mission Hospital.

The matatu was heading to Nairobi from Meru while the lorry was headed the opposite direction.

Witnesses said the driver of the lorry ferrying building stones lost control of the vehicle and rammed a stationery matatu.

Maara police boss Johnston Kabusia said the matatu had 10 passengers while the driver of the lorry was with his two conductors.

“it is good to have your vehicle checked before you set out for a trip to avoid accidents,” he said. No one in the lorry died.