Massive Fire Engulfs Nairobi Airport (PHOTOS)
A massive fire engulfed Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday, stranding hundreds of travelers at the busiest airport in East Africa. See photos of the scene.
AFP/Getty
A massive fire engulfed Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday morning, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at the busiest airport in East Africa. The blaze, which began about 5 a.m., took firefighters nearly four hours to contain. It's not clear what started the fire, which broke out at the immigration section of the terminal and wiped out the entire area. One passenger said he heard two small explosions before the fire erupted but officials claim they have found no terror link to the attacks. Wednesday marked the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
AFP/Getty
Firefighters attempt to contain the fire after a huge blaze ripped through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Aug. 7, 2013. The fire engulfed the entire building and forced officials to close the airport, which is the city's main international hub.
Dai Kurokawa/EPA, via Landov
Parts of the roof collapsed, which made it more difficult for emergency crews to battle the blaze.
AFP/Getty
Smoke billowed from the airport and could be seen for miles.
Dai Kurokawa/EPA, via Landov
Kenya Airways staff wait outside as firefighters battled the massive blaze.
AFP/Getty
Stranded passengers wait for instructions about their flights as the fire rampaged through the terminal building.
Dai Kurokawa/EPA, via Landov
The exterior of Nairobi's international airport was badly burned during the fire.
Lama Kabbani/AFP/Getty
Firefighters were eventually able to put out the fire but not before it gutted the international arrivals area of the airport.
Sayyid Azim/AP
Once the fire was out, police officers moved in to begin their investigation of the scene.
Dai Kurokawa/EPA, via Landov
Water sprays down as firefighters work to contain the blaze.
Dai Kurokawa/EPA, via Landov
The airport terminal was destroyed by the fire. A firefighter walks through the debris.
Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty
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