Panic has gripped Miradi village in Embakasi over fears of another gas leak, just three days after at least six people died and many others critically injured on Friday, February 2.
This prompted the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) and the police to come in on Monday, February 5 to urge residents near the area to leave their homes.
Nairobi City County Chief Officer in charge of disaster management Bramwell Simiyu said that the evacuation was preemptive, adding that there is no cause for alarm as the area had been secured and a fire engine dispatched as a precautionary measure.
EPRA, Simiyu said, had been alerted of the development and was expected to assess the situation, with the the police urging residents near the area to leave their homes.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura disclosed that seven individuals are in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital and Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital.
Last week, EPRA said that permit applications for the LPG facility was rejected due to safety standards not being met. EPRA cited concerns about the proposed site’s proximity to a densely populated area.
The rejected designs failed to meet safety distances outlined in the Kenyan Standard. EPRA requested a Qualitative Risk Assessment to simulate blast profiles in case of an explosion, emphasizing the need for safety in the surrounding areas.
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