Panic gripped Nairobi’s Southern Bypass on Saturday afternoon when a fuel tanker collided with a lorry loaded with flour bales, triggering a catastrophic explosion and inferno.
The crash happened near the Swaminarayan Tunnel Bridge, close to Carnivore Restaurant and Wilson Airport. The impact sent the tanker sliding off the bridge, where it erupted in flames. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky as the fire raged for hours, with witnesses reporting multiple explosions.
Eyewitness Ethan Kariuki, a Trident Park resident, recounted the sheer terror to a local publication. “It blew up on impact. There was a big fire that spread everywhere, even to the underpass,” he told reporters. “People were panicking and running. The flames lasted forever, exploding again and again. It was a huge mess — I don’t think the tanker driver made it out unscathed, but I hope he did.”
Lang’ata Sub-County Police Commander Pius Mwanthi confirmed the tragedy: “The accident claimed one life — the driver of the flour lorry. The tanker driver was rescued and taken to hospital.”
Firefighters, Kenya Red Cross teams, and police raced to the scene, battling the blaze while managing traffic and dispersing crowds. Some onlookers dangerously attempted to collect spilled fuel, prompting stern warnings from officers about the risk of further explosions.
The vital Southern Bypass — a major artery linking Nairobi to Mombasa Road — was fully closed for hours. Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) urged motorists to avoid the area. By evening, cleanup crews cleared the wreckage, and the road reopened.
Fuel tanker accidents remain a deadly threat in Kenya. The 2009 Sachangwan disaster in Nakuru claimed over 100 lives when a crashed tanker exploded amid fuel scooping. Authorities renewed calls for public caution around such incidents.
Investigations into Saturday’s crash are underway. Drivers are advised to exercise extra care on busy highways.
