Truck burst into flames after colliding with other vehicles on road from Nairobi, leaving more than 30 people dead and 10 injured

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

A tanker truck carrying chemical gas slammed into other vehicles and burst into flames on a major road in Kenya, killing more than 30 people and injuring 10, officials said.

The vehicle went out of control while going downhill on the road from the capital of Nairobi to Naivasha late on Saturday, said Mwachi Pius Mwachi, the deputy director and communications officer for the National Disaster Management Unit.

“This is a serious chemical incident,” Mwachi said. “Police and other rescuers are still on the scene … clearing debris.”

Felestus Kioko, the Red Cross coordinator of the region, said more than 30 bodies had been recovered.

Mwachi said that at least 11 vehicles burned in the accident. Police said 10 people were injured.

Kenya has struggled to reduce the rising number of road accidents as more people acquire vehicles in the country’s growing middle class.

In 2013 the government reintroduced breathalysers to limit accidents blamed on drunk drivers.

According to the National Transport and Safety Authority 1,574 died in road accidents in the first half of 2016 – 86 more deaths than in the same period of 2015.