Tragedy struck in Oyugis, Homa Bay County, last night after a gas explosion claimed the life of one man and left a bookshop completely razed, resulting in significant property loss.
According to Emily Owuor, the Oyugis Town Location Chief, the victim, whose identity remains unknown, was described by locals as a newcomer to the area.
“The man must have spent the night in one of the lodgings behind the shop. He came out to check on the commotion caused by the explosion but was struck by a flying gas cylinder and died on the spot,” Owuor said.
The fire, which reportedly originated from a nearby barber shop, quickly engulfed the adjacent bookshop which has a gas store in front, leaving it in ruins.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the explosion, but investigations are ongoing.
Efforts to extinguish the fire were met with challenges. A fire extinguisher truck from Kisii County, called in by the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) due to proximity, faced resistance from enraged residents. “The residents, frustrated by the delay, pelted the vehicle with stones, claiming the damage had already been done,” Owuor explained.
The victim’s body was retrieved and taken to the morgue at Rachuonyo Level Four Hospital.
This incident has left Oyugis in shock, with residents calling for better emergency response measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
