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First international flights after Nairobi airport fire | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Some international flights have landed at Nairobi's international airport a day after fire gutted the arrivals hall, causing serious disruption. | |
A plane from London was the first to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 06:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Kenyan airport authorities said. | A plane from London was the first to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 06:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Kenyan airport authorities said. |
Other planes from Bangkok and Kilimanjaro also arrived. | |
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Kenyan authorities say no serious injuries were reported. | The cause of the fire is not yet known. Kenyan authorities say no serious injuries were reported. |
The Nairobi airport is a regional hub serving more than 16,000 passengers daily and its closure caused widespread disruption. | The Nairobi airport is a regional hub serving more than 16,000 passengers daily and its closure caused widespread disruption. |
International flights into the city had been diverted to other airports in Eldoret and the coastal city of Mombasa. | International flights into the city had been diverted to other airports in Eldoret and the coastal city of Mombasa. |
On Wednesday the interior ministry announced the resumption of domestic and cargo services. | On Wednesday the interior ministry announced the resumption of domestic and cargo services. |
The fire took about four hours to bring under control, by which time the arrivals hall had been gutted. | The fire took about four hours to bring under control, by which time the arrivals hall had been gutted. |
'Completely destroyed' | 'Completely destroyed' |
The Kenya Airport Authority told the BBC that Kenya Airways flights were arriving and taking off "now at more or less normal operations". | |
Other international airlines had not yet clarified their operations, it added. | |
The fire started in the airport's international arrivals and immigration area at around 05:00 on Wednesday and spread quickly. | The fire started in the airport's international arrivals and immigration area at around 05:00 on Wednesday and spread quickly. |
Questions are being asked about why so few fire engines were available initially. | Questions are being asked about why so few fire engines were available initially. |
It appears that some engines got stuck in the Kenyan capital's notorious traffic jams. Many engines at the scene also quickly ran out of water. | It appears that some engines got stuck in the Kenyan capital's notorious traffic jams. Many engines at the scene also quickly ran out of water. |
Soldiers and police even came with buckets to help put out the fire, Sylvia Amondi, who was at the airport to pick up a relative who had been due to arrive there, told AFP news agency. | Soldiers and police even came with buckets to help put out the fire, Sylvia Amondi, who was at the airport to pick up a relative who had been due to arrive there, told AFP news agency. |
"The international arrivals station has been completely destroyed, the roof has caved in and the floor is covered in debris and water," she said. | "The international arrivals station has been completely destroyed, the roof has caved in and the floor is covered in debris and water," she said. |
A third of Europe's flower imports, and many fresh vegetables, come from Kenya and the Kenya Flower Council exporters' association described the fire as "disastrous". | A third of Europe's flower imports, and many fresh vegetables, come from Kenya and the Kenya Flower Council exporters' association described the fire as "disastrous". |
Shares in Kenya Airways, which uses the airport as its main hub, fell 2% after the fire. | Shares in Kenya Airways, which uses the airport as its main hub, fell 2% after the fire. |
Foreign airlines which use the terminal include British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM, Turkish Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways. Several cancelled flights to Nairobi on Wednesday. | Foreign airlines which use the terminal include British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM, Turkish Airways, South African Airways and Ethiopian Airways. Several cancelled flights to Nairobi on Wednesday. |
The country's anti-terrorism chief, Boniface Mwaniki, has said he does not believe the fire - which happened on the 15th anniversary of the bombings by al-Qaeda of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - was connected to terrorism. | The country's anti-terrorism chief, Boniface Mwaniki, has said he does not believe the fire - which happened on the 15th anniversary of the bombings by al-Qaeda of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - was connected to terrorism. |
Correspondents say the airport is old and overcrowded. | Correspondents say the airport is old and overcrowded. |