Reports are coming in through the Kenya Red Cross, the country’s foremost emergency response organization, that a major fire is raging at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Courtesy of twitter picture via this tweet: ‘FIRE reported at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport #Nairobi via #iVolunteer @decibyte ^PO’ this is the first available image of the raging inferno, which seems to have fully engulfed one of the main buildings.
Stand by for more reports and updates in due course.
The latest update at 06.17 hrs speaks of the main arrival building, at least the upper floors, being completely engulfed in a major fire and the arrival hall and immigration area has been cleared of passengers while those outside the main arrival hall, beyond customs check points, too has been cleared of people and cars normally waiting there. Parked cars should be removed to make way for fire brigade units coming from the city too.
UPDATE: 0617 hours EAT
The latest update at 0617 hours speaks of the main arrival building, at least the upper floors, being completely engulfed in a major fire and the arrival hall and immigration area has been cleared of passengers while those outside the main arrival call, beyond customs, has also been cleared of people and cars normally waiting there. Parked cars should be removed to make way for fire brigade units coming from the city, too.
UPDATE: 0634 hours EAT
Kenya Airport Authority Statement:
We confirm reports of a fire at JKIA affecting part of the International Arrivals building and Unit 1 departures. The KAA Fire and Rescue Team is on the ground being assisted by G4S and the Nairobi Fire Brigade. Passengers have been evacuated to safety.
This correspondent also urges to refrain from any speculation over the cause of the fire, which will no doubt be fully investigated.
At present there is NO information about any injuries or loss of life.
UPDATE: 0648 hours EAT
Reliable sources from JKIA now speak of a development just taking place at JKIA, that access to the airport has been closed for passengers trying to depart on morning flights, domestic, regional and international, to allow additional firefighting services from the Kenya Army, the National Youth Service, and other government organizations priority access to the arrival/departure buildings as the sheer size of the blaze requires additional resources.
Unit One departures according to some reports is also affected.
Still no reports of injuries or loss of life.
Passengers should be aware that their departure may be delayed considerably until the blaze has been brought under full control and no more danger exists for travelers and staff working at JKIA.
And just in, news that inbound flights may have to be diverted to avoid passengers piling up at JKIA and authorities being unable to process them into the country.
UPDATE: 0725 hours EAT
It has now been confirmed that parked aircraft near the terminal have been towed away to a safe distance and that equipment like high loaders, movable stairs, and vehicles have also been taken away from the apron area just outside Terminal 3, 2, and 1.
Incoming flights are being diverted to Mombasa, Eldoret, Entebbe, Kilimanjaro International, and Dar es Salaam.
Due to the major airline offices located in the affected area, there is no landline communication possible right now, and unless mobile numbers of airline staff at the JKIA station are available, authoritative statements about where respective flights have been diverted to can only be obtained through the airline city offices in due course.
Major fire reported from JKIA in Nairobi | Wolfganghthome's Blog
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Capital FM reports: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013...-jkia-on-fire/
