Two Dead, 14 Injured After Fuel Tanker Explodes on Eldoret-Turbo Road
The explosion prompted a mass casualty response, with emergency teams rushing to the scene to rescue the injured and secure the area.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
ELDORET, UASIN GISHU
Friday, September 18,2026
Two people have been confirmed dead and 14 others injured after a petroleum tanker exploded along the Eldoret-Turbo road near Paul Boit Secondary School on Thursday night.
The victims are believed to have been caught in the blast while attempting to collect fuel from the tanker after it was involved in an accident.
The explosion prompted a mass casualty response, with emergency teams rushing to the scene to rescue the injured and secure the area.
The Kenya Red Cross said it was coordinating the emergency response alongside the police and firefighters.
“Kenya Red Cross is on the ground responding in collaboration with Kenya Police and firefighters,” the organisation said in a post on X at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.
The circumstances surrounding the tanker accident and the events that led to the explosion were not immediately clear.
The incident caused disruption along the busy Eldoret-Turbo route as emergency personnel worked at the scene. Motorists were advised to avoid the affected section of the road to give rescue teams enough room to operate.
The identities of the two people who died had not been released by the time of publication. Details on the conditions of the 14 injured victims were also not immediately available.
Petroleum tanker accidents can pose serious risks because spilled fuel can ignite rapidly, particularly when people gather around the scene. Authorities routinely advise members of the public to keep away from damaged tankers and areas where fuel has spilled.
Police and other emergency agencies are expected to establish the circumstances of the crash and subsequent explosion as investigations continue.
The incident comes as emergency agencies continue to caution motorists and members of the public against approaching accident scenes involving fuel tankers because of the risk of fire and further explosions.
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