A routine drive on one of Nairobi’s busiest roads nearly turned tragic after a fuel tanker accident caused a deadly explosion on the Southern Bypass. The incident happened on Saturday, January 24, and left many road users shaken, including social media personality Naserianne Sintako, who says she and her friends narrowly escaped the disaster.
Sintako explained that they were driving along the bypass and had just passed through an underpass near Ram Residency moments before the accident occurred. Seconds later, a fuel tanker flipped over and burst into flames. The explosion was intense and could be seen from far away, with thick black smoke rising into the sky.
Photo Courtesy/Screen grab/Tuko
According to reports from the scene, the tanker driver died in the accident. At least five cars were completely destroyed by the fire, leaving behind twisted metal and burned remains.
Emergency teams rushed to the area and closed the road for some time as they worked to control the fire and manage the situation.
Sharing her experience on Instagram, Sintako described the fear and confusion that followed the explosion. She said people inside their cars began running as panic spread along the road. She also posted a video taken from above that showed the size of the fire and the heavy smoke covering the area.
She wrote that she was very thankful to be alive. “God saved us. We passed the tunnel, then seconds later, a truck toppled and went up in flames. I’m praying for the families nearby,” she said.
Authorities later identified the tanker driver as Hussein Aliou, aged 55. Officials confirmed that several vehicles were burned beyond recognition, highlighting the seriousness of the accident.