A fuel tanker exploded at Sachangwan along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway shortly after midnight, leaving at least two people injured and prompting the closure of part of the busy route.
The Kenya Red Cross said its emergency team responded to the incident on Tuesday, October 6, as a multi-agency team worked to contain the fire.
“Our team attended to two casualties, and a multi-agency team has contained the fire,” the Kenya Red Cross said.
The Kenya Red Cross said the affected section of the highway had been closed at Kibunja and the Soilo interchange to allow emergency teams to manage the scene. Motorists travelling between Nakuru and Eldoret were advised to use alternative routes until the road is reopened.
The closure was also intended to keep motorists and other road users away from the tanker and give emergency personnel enough space to conduct rescue and safety operations.
“The highway is closed at Kibunja and Soilo interchange. Please use alternative route,” the Kenya Red Cross stated.
Motorists have further been urged to exercise caution and follow instructions from security and emergency personnel operating at the scene.
The tanker reportedly exploded shortly after midnight, triggering a major fire at the busy Sachangwan section of the highway.
Footage and images from the scene showed flames engulfing the tanker, with thick smoke rising above the area as emergency teams responded. The cause of the explosion had not been established by the time of reporting.
Why is Sachangwan associated with tanker accidents?
The latest incident has brought renewed attention to the history of deadly accidents along the Salgaa-Sachangwan corridor, which was previously regarded as one of Kenya’s major road accident black spots.
The roughly 21-kilometre stretch between Salgaa and Sachangwan recorded numerous serious crashes over the years, including accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles.
One of the worst tragedies occurred in 2009 when a petrol tanker overturned at Sachangwan and spilled fuel. At least 111 people died while more than 200 others were injured in the disaster, making it one of Kenya’s deadliest fuel tanker accidents. People who gathered around the overturned tanker to collect the fuel were caught up in a subsequent explosion.
