Seven people sustained serious burns while six vehicles were burnt to ashes after an LPG tanker exploded at Ngenia along the Mutarakwa/Mai Mahiu road yesterday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the tanker crashed at around 5am but it did not explode.

Consequently, the driver alerted his boss who sent a crane to lift the tanker. However, as the tanker was being lifted at around 11 am, it exploded into balls of fire.

“The accident happened before dawn and the owners of the tanker were trying to lift it up at around 11am when it exploded,” said Alex Muthioma, an eyewitness.

Black smoke billowed from the tanker as the fire fast spread into the nearby thickets prompting locals to scamper to safety.

Police had a hard time controlling a huge crowd of locals, who ignorantly milled near the accident scene.  Those who sustained injuries were occupants of three private car, two lorries and the recovery crane.

They were rushed to various hospitals including Tigoni Level Four Hospital in Limuru and PCEA Thogoto Hospital, Kikuyu.

Curious onlookers jammed the accident, as fire fighters made every effort to contain the inferno that was spreading fast due to the windy weather.

The accident caused a huge traffic snarl-up that was worsened by overlapping.

Motorists were advised to use alternatives.

Actual figure

Confirming the incident, Limuru Deputy police boss Gitonga Thumi said  according to  eyewitnesses,  the injured were six men and a woman. “Eyewitnesses are saying that seven people, among them six men and a woman were injured and rushed to hospital. We are, however, yet to establish the actual figure because we have not gone to the hospitals. The injured were rushed for treatment by Good Samaritans,” he said.

Gitonga dispelled social media reports that the fire had consumed some homes around the scene of the accident.

“No home was burnt and there were no fatalities,” he said adding that the Limuru disaster management team contained the fire.

He said that investigations had been launched to establish the cause of the fire.  Police spokesman Bruno Shioso said they were waiting for more details on the incident.