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Huge Fire Shuts Down Nairobi’s International Airport Huge Fire Shuts Down Nairobi’s International Airport
(about 1 hour later)
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan authorities ordered the closure on Wednesday of Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the busiest in the country, after a huge fire broke out and spread to the international arrivals area, officials said. NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan authorities ordered the temporary closing on Wednesday of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi after a huge fire broke out and raged for four hours, officials and witnesses said. The blaze spread to the international arrivals area, bringing East Africa’s busiest airport to a standstill and turning parts of it into charred ruins.
The blaze shut down one of East Africa’s most important transportation hubs, for passengers as well as cargo, with only emergency landings permitted. The fire started at around 5 a.m., when many flights to and from Europe and elsewhere are scheduled. It was contained after several hours, Kenyan officials said, but there was no indication of when the airport would reopen. By mid-afternoon, Michael Kamau, a senior government transport official, told reporters that the airport had been partially reopened for domestic and cargo flights, but international traffic was still suspended. Airport authorities planned to convert another part of the facility to a temporary terminal for international flights, he said.
The airport handles 16,000 passengers a day, officials said. The airport handles 16,000 passengers a day, officials said, and is a vital link for Kenya’s cut flower export business — an important source of foreign currency along with the country’s tourism trade on beaches and in game reserves, and the exportation of tea.
The fire started at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, when many flights to and from Europe and elsewhere were scheduled.
Many incoming flights were diverted to the Indian Ocean coastal city of Mombasa.Many incoming flights were diverted to the Indian Ocean coastal city of Mombasa.
The fire came less than two days after problems with a fuel jet pump forced the diversion of flights to other regional airports including those of Mombasa, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, Reuters reported.
The blaze sent a plume of black smoke that was visible from the Kenyan capital a few miles away, witnesses said. Reporters from The Associated Press at the scene said stranded passengers stood on sidewalks outside the airport with their luggage in hand, and that the international arrivals hall had been gutted.The blaze sent a plume of black smoke that was visible from the Kenyan capital a few miles away, witnesses said. Reporters from The Associated Press at the scene said stranded passengers stood on sidewalks outside the airport with their luggage in hand, and that the international arrivals hall had been gutted.
News reports said some emergency vehicles heading for the blaze got bogged down in rush-hour traffic on the airport road.News reports said some emergency vehicles heading for the blaze got bogged down in rush-hour traffic on the airport road.
Wednesday, Aug. 7, is the anniversary of the 1998 coordinated bombings of United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, attacks that killed more than 200 people.Wednesday, Aug. 7, is the anniversary of the 1998 coordinated bombings of United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, attacks that killed more than 200 people.
But Kenya’s antiterror police boss, Boniface Mwaniki, told The A.P. that he wanted to wait for the fire to be extinguished before making a judgment about whether terrorism had been involved. Kenya is a key Western ally, abutting troubled areas of neighboring Somalia.But Kenya’s antiterror police boss, Boniface Mwaniki, told The A.P. that he wanted to wait for the fire to be extinguished before making a judgment about whether terrorism had been involved. Kenya is a key Western ally, abutting troubled areas of neighboring Somalia.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Katie Price, an American aid worker with Catholic Relief Services, said she arrived on a plane from Lusaka, Zambia, that landed at around the time the fire broke out and was stranded in the aircraft for several hours, before hundreds of passengers from hers and other flights were evacuated through a makeshift immigration hall in a cargo area that escaped the blaze. The fire came less than two days after problems with a fuel jet pump forced the diversion of flights to other regional airports, including those of Mombasa, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda and Kigali International Airport in Rwanda, Reuters reported.
Katie Price, an American aid worker with Catholic Relief Services, said she arrived on a plane from Lusaka, Zambia, that landed at around the time the fire broke out and was stranded in the aircraft for several hours, before hundreds of passengers were evacuated through a makeshift immigration hall in a cargo area that escaped the blaze.
The fire lasted several hours, Ms. Price, 32, said in a telephone interview, and appeared to have caused major damage. “It looked like it would be hard to repair,” she said.The fire lasted several hours, Ms. Price, 32, said in a telephone interview, and appeared to have caused major damage. “It looked like it would be hard to repair,” she said.

Reuben Kyama reported from Nairobi and Alan Cowell from London.

Reuben Kyama reported from Nairobi and Alan Cowell from London.