A massive fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at Yare Plaza in Eastleigh, Nairobi, sparking fears that hundreds of occupants may have been trapped inside the multi-storey building.
Images and videos circulating online show huge flames engulfing sections of the structure, with thick black smoke billowing from upper-floor windows. In dramatic scenes, several people were seen escaping from higher floors using ropes and cables to slide down to adjacent buildings as panic gripped the area.
The incident has caused significant disruption, bringing traffic in Eastleigh to a near standstill. Both motorists and pedestrians were stranded as emergency responders battled congestion on the busy roads surrounding the building.
Firefighters from Nairobi City County responded to the emergency and were working to contain the blaze and evacuate occupants. The full extent of the damage and any potential casualties had not been immediately confirmed by authorities.
Witnesses said the cause of the fire remains unclear. Security agencies are expected to launch investigations once the fire is fully contained.
The Yare Plaza incident adds to a series of recent fire outbreaks reported across Nairobi in recent months. In late February, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed a major residential fire in Kangemi that left several families homeless. Earlier in January, multiple buildings along Luthuli Street were also destroyed by fires, with one incident later attributed to an electrical fault.