Fire Shuts Down Airport In The Kenyan Capital, Nairobi [PHOTO]

  

A huge fire has ravaged the main international airport in the Kenyan capital,Nairobi. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – a key regional hub – has been closed, passengers evacuated and incoming flights diverted.

The fire is now said to have been contained but there has been criticism of the time it took emergency services to respond.
Images from the scene showed flames leaping from one of the main buildings.

Cabinet secretary for transport Michael Kamau said the fire was “very severe” and urged people to stay away from the airport.
There have been no reports of any casualties and the cause of the fire is not clear.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is the regional hub for East Africa, with many long-distance flights landing there to connect to countries across the region.
The airport is the main gateway for European tourists and is also crucial for the country’s key flower export industry, so the fire could have a huge economic impact, says the BBC’s Emmanual Igunza at the scene.