KENYA: Fire destroys major supermarket in Kenya's capital Nairobi

Record ID: 360878

  • Title: KENYA: Fire destroys major supermarket in Kenya's capital Nairobi
  • Date: 29th January 2009
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (JANUARY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) AERIAL SMOKE RISING FROM CITY VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING AS CARS DRIVE PAST SMOKE/ STREETLIGHT IN FOREGROUND PEOPLE LOOKING AT FLAMES AND SMOKE RISING SMOKE/PEOPLE RUNNING FROM SMOKE/ FIRE FIGHTERS TRYING TO STOP THE FIRE SMOKE RISING WITH TREE IN FOREGROUND SMOKE COMING OUT OF BUILDING FIRE-FIGHTERS SPRAYING WATER ON FLAMES FI
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVABVHOZ2WF0C0GAHAISKKS1IXDD
  • Story Text: A fire destroys a major supermarket in the centre of Kenya's capital Nairobi forcing scores of people to leave their offices and rush onto the street.
    Clouds of smoke billowed over Kenya's capital Nairobi on Wednesday (January 29) after a major supermarket caught fire causing millions of dollars in loses.
    The fire started at the top of the Woolworths building which houses Nakumatt supermarket in the centre of the East African city and gutted the entire building drawing in dozens of fire-fighters who struggled to control the flames.
    Ambulances rushed dozens of people suffering of injuries to hospital but there were no fatalities.
    However local media reported four people had not been accounted for by the evening.
    Repeated blasts could be heard coming from the burning building but there were no clear reports as to what caused them.
    Scores of Nairobi's residents left their offices and gathered in the street as smoke blew into many buildings in the city.
    At some point, fire fighters needed the help of the public to steady the hose that was carrying high pressured water to put out the fire.
    Offices along the street where the fire occurred evacuated their employees after fears that the flames would spread.
    T he cause of the fire could not be immediately established.
    Nakumatt is the country's largest supermarket chain.
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