Train transporting 250,000 litres of super petrol overturns in Mombasa

Transport was paralysed in Changamwe, Mombasa County after a train transporting fuel overturned spilling thousands of litres of super petrol.

Mombasa Police Commander Johnston Ipara said the train was transporting 250,000 litres of super petrol from the Mombasa Island when it derailed causing the spillage.

Seven wagons of the train are reported to have rolled into the ocean.

The Kibarani- Changamwe road was closed with drivers heading to Mombasa from Nairobi being advised to use alternative routes.

Firefighters were deployed to clean the road as police manned the scene to prevent local residents from milling around the scene.

No one was injured during the incident.

The Kenya Ports Authority termed the incident as “unfortunate” saying it had deployed a disaster management team to help control the situation and further spillage to the Ocean.

Private cars were allowed to move through the port, especially those heading to the airport and Standard Gauge Railway station in Miritini.

“We mobilized ourselves to avert further damages and also to safeguard marine life. We have temporality allowed vehicles and pedestrians to pass at the Port so that they can catch up with their activities,” the MD said.