Just 8.30am this morning a Kenya Pipeline pipe burst close to the Sinai Slums along the Lunga Lunga Road between Nairobi city centre and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and leaked into the sewage system and the Nairobi River. Some residents were reported as trying to siphon petrol from the leakage which have contributed to the 118 people being sent to kenyatta National Hospital with severe burns. At least 76 people have been confirmed dead. Some reports claim that people cooking close to the river sparked the explosion as masses of fuel poured into the river and Hospital officials are warning residents to stay away from the leakage and not to try and siphon fuel to sell.

Hundreds of families have been forced into homelessness as smoke rose into the air symbolizing the pain, agony and tragedy of Sinai that is far from over. Officials are saying that the process of identifying additional bodies could take many days as so many bodies have been so badly burned, beyond recognition.

Kenya Pipeline Company MD Selest Kilinda claimed that there was a technical problem that led to a faulty valve. This caused a leakage which could not be easily contained because of the rain which caused it to leak into the slums. Kenya Pipeline did shut down the pipe but it was too late because of the siphoning and the reaction of residents who should have ran in the opposite direction instead of towards the petrol.

Critics slam Kenya Pipeline for not doing enough to ensure their pipes are in working order amd they defended themselves by claiming that residents make the problem worse than it should be by tampering with spilt fuel and siphoning a substance that is potentially lethal and disastrous.

Selest Kilinda asked that people respect pipelines and stay as far away from pipeline routes as posible. He suggested that people refrain from setting up home close to piplines and that people should not smoke close to any sources of fuel, spilt or otherwise.

Meanwhile, rescuers continue to fight the tragedy and claim that there are many more dead and floating in nearby rivers which have not been identified much less counted.

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