Firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze, which is said to have started in the afternoon hours at the Kenya Pipeline Company depot located at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in the Kenyan capital.
Sneak preview of the fireball and thick smoke of the Kenya Pipeline Company’s holding facility at JKIA. Fire breaks out at JKIA pic.twitter.com/aBsuw3fiJZ
— Mwangi J™ (@MwangiJmacs) October 15, 2018
Disaster Management units are currently at the scene trying to contain the fire. The cause of the Monday afternoon fire has not been established. Airports officials say the fire has not caused any flight interruptions.
Earlier, flames flew high into the air above a six-storey structure, and a huge plume of smoke was seen billowing high above the airport at first light.
The national carrier, Kenya Airways, lost over Sh35 million in the fire previously. It is still not clear if planes have been diverted#JKIA pic.twitter.com/1du5KviTR8
— OLE Kinyanjui mkenya (@Romankinyash) October 15, 2018
In 2013, a fire at one of the airport’s terminal caused a major service interruption; with flights that were to land at JKIA being diverted to Moi International Airport, Mombasa and Kisumu International Airport.
The fire, according to an independent investigator, was caused by an electric fault, leaving a trail of devastating damage.
The national carrier, Kenya Airways, lost over Sh35 million in the fire.
Kenya Airways has marked a great milestone with the launch of a non-stop flight from Nairobi to New York. The national carrier started selling tickets for the inaugural flight which is scheduled for October 28th this year.
Kenya Airways becomes the first airline to offer a non-stop flight between East Africa and the United States of America.
The airline already serves Africa, Europe, Middle-East, Indian sub-continent and Asia.
The opening of the US destination completes an essential piece for Kenya Airways’ network, cementing its position as one of the leading African carriers.
More than 220 flights a day land and take-off at Nairobi, which is the main hub for East Africa.
Nairobi’s is the busiest international airport in East Africa, serving airlines including British Airways, KLM, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways, as well as being Kenya Airways’ headquarters.