Eldoret Tanker Blast: 11 Patients Face ICU Care as Death Toll Rises to Three
“I came back this morning hoping to find my son alive, but I was told that he had died in the ICU. I have lost my son,” Asha Cherop,
Grieving families gather outside Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital following the fire explosion, as the death toll rises to three, with 11 others admitted to the ICU.
By James Gitaka
Eleven victims of the petrol tanker explosion along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway are expected to require intensive care, with seven already admitted to the ICU at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) as doctors battle to save survivors suffering extensive burns.
The death toll has also risen to three, after one more victim succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at MTRH.
Dr Andrew Wandera, Senior Director of Clinical Services at MTRH, said the hospital had so far received 23 patients following the Thursday night inferno near Paul Boit Secondary School.
“We have so far received a total of 23 patients, where 22 came last night as one was brought this morning, as two passed away on arrival,” Dr Wandera said.
He said seven patients had already been admitted to the ICU, while four others were being prepared for intensive care because of the severity of their injuries.
“We have admitted so far seven in Intensive Care Unit as 11 are required to be at ICU. The remaining four are being prepared,” he said.
Dr Wandera said all the patients had suffered burn wounds, with those being transferred to the ICU having sustained the most serious injuries.
“The ones who are going to the ICU are the ones who have major burned wounds and require critical care,” he said.
The seven patients with the most extensive burns include victims who suffered burns covering between 40 and 50 per cent of their bodies, according to the hospital’s latest assessment.
Three patients have been intubated and placed on ventilatory support, while four others are breathing on their own but remain under close monitoring.
The latest hospital figures represent an increase from the initial reports following the accident, when two deaths and 10 casualties evacuated to various hospitals were reported.
Families confront devastating losses
As doctors fight to save the injured, families have been arriving at MTRH to identify their loved ones and seek updates on those fighting for their lives.
For Mary Kosgei Chepkogei, the explosion has taken away her brother Titus Kiptanui Yego, a father of two who lived near the scene of the accident.
Yego was among the victims burnt beyond recognition.
Chepkogei said the family is struggling to come to terms with the loss and appealed for government assistance with funeral arrangements.
“He has left behind a young family of two. We are asking the government to support us with the burial arrangements because this has been very difficult for the family,” Chepkogei said.
She said the family’s anguish has been compounded by the condition of another relative, Elvis Kipchirchir Lagat, who is fighting for his life in the ICU.
“Elvis is still in the ICU fighting for his life. The accident has devastated our family,” she said.
Mother arrives to learn son has died
For Asha Cherop, the tragedy began with a phone call while she was preparing her evening meal.
The single mother said she was informed at around 8 p.m. that her son had been caught up in the fire.
She rushed to the scene and found 21-year-old Suleiman Kipruto confused and repeatedly asking for water.
“When I arrived, I found my son confused. He was only asking for water,” Cherop said.
Kipruto was taken to MTRH at about 11 p.m., where he remained under treatment.
Cherop left the hospital hoping her son would survive. When she returned the following morning, she was met with the devastating news that he had died in the ICU.
“I came back this morning hoping to find my son alive, but I was told that he had died in the ICU. I have lost my son,” she said.
Kipruto worked washing cars and, according to his mother, used his earnings to help support the family.
“He used to wash cars to earn a living and help me. I am now left without my son, and I am asking for help,” Cherop said.
Governor visits ICU victims
Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii Chelilim visited patients admitted to the MTRH ICU and condoled with families who lost their loved ones.
The governor said the county government would provide essential support to families affected by the tragedy.
“The county government will provide the necessary support to the affected families during this difficult time,” Bii said.
Bii also called for the implementation of a directive to redirect transit lorries using the Eldoret-Malaba Highway to the Southern Bypass, arguing that diverting heavy commercial traffic away from built-up areas could reduce the potential impact of similar accidents.
“If the incident happened within the CBD, we would be speaking of so many casualties,” the governor warned.
He also cautioned residents against attempting to siphon fuel from overturned tankers, recalling the Sachangwan fuel tanker disaster, where dozens of people died after a fire engulfed people who had gathered around a crashed tanker.
“Kenyans have already learnt a painful lesson from the Sachangwan incident. People should not rush to siphon fuel whenever a tanker is involved in an accident,” Bii cautioned.
What happened?
The tanker overturned along the Eldoret-Webuye corridor near Paul Boit Secondary School, triggering a massive fire that engulfed people and property around the scene.
Emergency responders, including the Kenya Red Cross, police, firefighters and ambulance teams, were mobilised to evacuate the injured and secure the scene.
Initial reports indicated that people had gathered around the overturned tanker after fuel began spilling before the fire erupted.
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the tanker overturning and the subsequent explosion.
A preliminary police report indicated that investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding the fire, including whether attempts to interfere with the tanker after the crash may have contributed to the ignition.
The incident has renewed concerns over the risks posed by fuel tankers passing through heavily populated areas and the dangers of members of the public approaching vehicles carrying highly flammable petroleum products after crashes.
A hospital still fighting for lives
At MTRH, the focus has shifted from rescue to intensive medical care.
Seven victims are already in the ICU, while four more are being prepared for admission. The patients with the most extensive burns face prolonged treatment as doctors monitor their breathing, wounds and response to treatment.
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