One killed person, another injured in Oyugis gas explosion
Members of the public at the scene of a gas explosion in Oyugis town, Homa Bay County on November 15, 2024.
What you need to know:
- As the fire spread, members of the public scampered for safety.
- Residents reported hearing explosions before a ball of flame lit the night sky.
One person died and another was seriously injured in a gas explosion incident in Oyugis town on Thursday midnight.
The incident happened after fire started at a barber shop before spreading to a nearby building used to sell and refill gas cylinders.
In a chain reaction, the cylinders exploded and increased the intensity of the fire.
The deceased is reported to have died after being hit on the head with a gas cylinder.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Mr Hassan Barua said the man was lodging in a guest house some 200 meters from where the gas explosion happened.
Mr Barua said the man was hit when he was leaving the building where he was sleeping.
"As the gas cylinders burst into flames, they exploded and got tossed in the air. The deceased was struck on the head by one of the cylinders," he said.
The injured person was rushed to hospital. Investigators are still trying to establish the cause of the fire.
According to Oyugis town location chief Emily Owuor, the deceased was a shylock.
"He is new in town. He usually lends traders money and get repaid with an interest," Ms Owuor said.
As the fire spread, members of the public scampered for safety.
Residents reported hearing explosions before a ball of flame lit the night sky.
Mr George Ogina, a resident of Oyugis town, said most of the residents were asleep when they were suddenly woken up by the sound of exploding gas cylinders.
“Many people thought the explosions were gunfire. At first, I was hesitant to leave the house,” he said.
But when the explosion continued, Mr Ogina said he walked out of his house to establish what was happening. He then saw a shop on fire within the town.
Some residents attempted to put out the fire but their efforts were thwarted by the intensity of the heat and the risk of being hit by flying gas cylinders.
Authorities in Rachuonyo South called fire fighters from Kisii County which is nearer to Oyugis than Homa Bay.
Kisii Ms Owuor said a fire engine arrived at the scene some minutes later but the crowd that had gathered there became wild and started throwing stones at the vehicle.
Emergency operators of the vehicle had to seek refuge at Oyugis Police Station. By that time, the fire had started burning out.
