Nairobi — Car owners and mechanics in Kilimani are counting losses running into millions of shillings after a fire razed three garages along Muringa Road, destroying more than 50 high-end vehicles.
The fire broke out at around 11:30pm on Monday at one of the garages before spreading rapidly to two neighbouring facilities, witnesses said.
Firefighters from the Nairobi County Government arrived at the scene about an hour after the blaze started and battled the flames for nearly five hours before bringing the situation under control.
By the time the fire was extinguished, several top-of-the-range vehicles had been reduced to charred and twisted metal shells.
Garage owners count millions in losses
The affected garages were reportedly busy facilities where vehicles were undergoing repairs and other mechanical work.
Car owners who visited the scene were left surveying the remains of their vehicles as mechanics assessed the extent of the destruction.
Garage owners said the losses went beyond the more than 50 vehicles destroyed in the inferno.
They also lost spare parts, tools and other valuables, with the total damage estimated to run into millions of shillings.
The cause of the fire had not been established at the time of reporting, while further investigations are expected to determine how the blaze started and whether any safety concerns contributed to its rapid spread.
