Huge fire breaks out at a building in Nairobi CBD

There was panic in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) on Monday, August 3, after a fire broke out at Lotus House near Afya Centre.

Preliminary reports indicate that several people may be trapped inside the building as emergency responders raced to the scene to contain the blaze.

Images from the scene painted a worrying picture, with the blaze primarily stemming from the first floor of the building.

Initial efforts to contain the blaze by fire extinguishers proved futile, as locals had a difficult time accessing the building from inside due to the extent of the fire. 

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While the cause of the fire remains unclear, the blaze appeared to spread rapidly in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak.

The blaze caused temporary traffic disruption along the busy Tom Mboya Street as crowds of onlookers gathered to watch firefighters battle the flames.

In the immediate aftermath of the blaze, there was initial concerns that it could spread to a nearby petrol stations, which borders the famous Afya Centre. 

Lotus House primarily houses small commercial offices, private business agencies and retail spaces. Its first floor has historically been occupied by private corporate offices and company suites.

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