2016 Naivasha traffic fireball

The Naivasha traffic fireball occurred on 11 December 2016 when a small truck (allegedly a Canter) carrying explosive chemicals lost control due to an unmarked road bump and exploded on a main highway near Naivasha, Kenya. The explosion caught up 10 other vehicles including a military vehicle and killed 43[1] people and injuring more than 50 people, according to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre.[2]

2016 Naivasha Traffic Fireball
Location of Nakuru County in Kenya
Date11 December 2016
LocationNaivasha, Nakuru County, Kenya
Deaths43
Non-fatal injuries50+

Speculations pointed the cause of the explosion to be an oil tanker. This was picked up by both local and international media.[3] It was later proved that the cause was a Mitsubishi Canter with Ugandan registration carrying highly flammable industrial chemical substance.

Way Forward edit

Kenya is struggling to reduce the number of deaths on its roads. According to figures released by Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority, 1,574 people died in road accidents during the first half of 2016.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "naivasha traffic accident of December 2016".
  2. ^ "Kenya Naivasha: 30 dead as fireball engulfs traffic on road". BBC News. 11 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Oil truck fireball kills at least 42 in central Kenya: aid worker". Reuters. 11 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Road accidents". Transport. 2017-11-15. doi:10.1787/2fe1b899-en. Retrieved 2022-09-12.