10 injured in alcohol plant fire in Nairobi

At least 10 people were injured when a fire broke out at a beverage and alcoholic drinks manufacturing plant in Nairobi Tuesday. A huge explosion preceded the fire that began around 12.20pm at the Africa Spirits along Mombasa Road.No one was killed during the mid-morning fire although rescue officials said some workers suffered serious injuries.Fire-fighters battled the inferno for two hours before it was fully contained. 

The injured were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital and other hospitals around the factory.

An electric fault was suspected to have caused the fire at the firm, the makers of Blue Moon, Furaha and 360 Whiskey among other spirits.The building was partially destroyed but workers managed to rescue hundreds of bottled spirits as the fire threatened to consume the whole building.Company officials said they were yet to know the cost of the losses incurred although they said it could be millions of shillings.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Senator Gideon Mbuvi visited the factory and praised the firemen who battled the inferno.“The fire-fighters responded well and were able to contain it. It could have been a huge fire because of the inflammable spirits in the building,” said Dr Kidero. He also asked companies making inflammable products to be more cautious and prepared to fight fire.Mr Mbuvi said the speed at which fire-fighters responded was encouraging.

Nine of the workers injured in the explosion were admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.Mr James Waweru, 24, said he was in the production room when “all of a sudden electricity went off.”

“We then heard a huge blast. The blast was heavy. A fire then erupted engulfing the whole building. It was then that we started running for our safety. The place I work is congested a thing that led to commotion as we scampered for safety,” Mr Waweru told the Nation at KNH.Mr Waweru who sustained burns in various parts of the body said he assisted a number of employees to escape and that some were rushed to a hospital in Mariakani for treatment.A casual worker, Mr Waweru said he had only worked at the firm for a month.

“I have not worked for three years so that I can be absorbed permanently,” Mr Waweru said.

Ms Stella Nduku, 20, said the explosion and the fire that followed caught many workers by surprise and that they were lucky to have escaped alive.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Fire-burns-alcohol-plant-in-Nairobi/-/1056/2096886/-/jfn62uz/-/index.html