A devastating gas explosion destroyed the Huruma neighbourhood late on Saturday evening, October 4, leaving eight dead and over 80 families homeless and in urgent need of food and shelter.

The explosion left houses burned down, leading to a lot of fatalities, forcing injured people to seek medical treatment.

Survivors and residents recounted how things fell out of control, with fire and smoke filling the small pavements between their houses and people becoming so panicked as roofs blew off and walls crumbled around them.

Early investigations indicate that the explosion could have as a result of a leaking cylinder or a broken piping in one of the houses, since in most cases it’s always the threat in highly populated urban settings.

The official cause has not been established yet by safety regulators, but local fire officials are investigating whether improper storage, deficient insulation, or tampering of pressure valves may have contributed to the tragedy.

Delayed Emergency Response

Residents expressed their anger and frustrations over what they believe is a delayed emergency response and poor preventive measures.

They therefore urged the Government to allocate more funds for infrastructure and implement a higher level of safety requirements on liquified petroleum gas systems and perform regular checks.

“This could happen again if nothing is done,” warned one of the displaced family members who demanded the imposition of building codes and safety inspections in the congested settlements.

Preventing Future Disasters

To prevent future disasters, the team of experts advises that gas installations be compulsorily certified and inspected, that the public be educated on proper handling of gas, and that response measures be taken in the event of a gas leak.

“Increasing fire and rescue services, arming local stations with sophisticated detection equipment, and engaging local residents in safety education can all help reduce such incidents from happening in vulnerable neighbourhoods in the future.”

An image captured of how the residential area was burning down