By Robert Mutasi 
Two people have died and 14 others sustained injuries after a petroleum tanker exploded along the Eldoret-Turbo road near Paul Boit Secondary School on Thursday night.
The victims are suspected to have been among people who gathered at the scene after the tanker was involved in an accident. They were reportedly attempting to collect fuel that had spilled from the vehicle when the explosion occurred.
The blast triggered a major emergency response, with the Kenya Red Cross, police officers and firefighters deployed to the scene to assist the injured and contain the situation.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that it had activated a mass casualty response following the incident.
“Kenya Red Cross is on the ground responding in collaboration with Kenya Police and firefighters,” the organisation said in a post on X at around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
The identities of the two people who died had not been released by authorities by the time of publication. The condition of the 14 injured victims was also not immediately established.
The explosion caused disruption along the Eldoret-Turbo road as emergency teams worked to clear the area and attend to those affected.
Motorists using the busy route were advised to keep away from the affected section and allow emergency responders to access the scene without obstruction.
Police were also expected to secure the area as investigations continued into the tanker accident and the events preceding the explosion.
Fuel tanker accidents present a significant danger to people who approach the scene, particularly where petroleum products have spilled. A source of ignition can trigger a fire or explosion, putting motorists, residents and other bystanders at risk.
Authorities are expected to provide further details on the incident, including the identities of those who died, the condition of the injured and the circumstances that led to the tanker explosion.