An overnight fire in the Chaani area of Mombasa has left an 11-year-old girl dead and six families without homes, following a blaze that broke out late Thursday night.
The fire, which started around midnight, quickly engulfed a multi-family residential structure. Residents say efforts to contain the fire were hampered by a delayed and under-equipped response from the county fire department. The first fire truck reportedly arrived without sufficient water, forcing residents to watch helplessly as the flames spread.
“It was chaos. People were screaming, trying to salvage anything they could, but the fire moved too fast,” said a resident who lost his home.
The young girl was trapped inside one of the rooms and did not make it out in time. Her body was discovered hours later among the rubble, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
Six families are now displaced, with all their possessions reduced to ashes. They are currently seeking refuge with neighbours or in temporary shelters as they await assistance from the local government.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, many of whom blame poor disaster preparedness and negligence by emergency services. Local leaders have also criticized the fire department’s lack of resources and coordination, calling for immediate reforms and better funding for emergency response units.
County officials have promised to investigate the cause of the fire and review the performance of the fire services. Plans are underway to provide relief aid, including food, clothing, and temporary shelter for the affected families.
As the community mourns the loss of a young life, there is growing pressure on authorities to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.
