Dozens left homeless in Lamu fire
Smouldering remains of houses that were burnt in Faza Island, Lamu on Saturday. At least 2,000 people were left homeless. Photo/Red Cross
What you need to know:
More than 500 houses including rental houses for police officers razed.
Strong winds from the Indian Ocean fan the fire.
Two people suffer minor burns.
Kenya Red Cross has provided emergency assistance.
Over 2,000 people have been left homeless after a fierce fire burnt down their houses at Faza Island, Lamu district in Coast Province.
Strong winds from the Indian Ocean made it impossible for residents to put off the fire, which razed down more than 500 houses including rental houses for police officers.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Coast regional manager Mohamed Mahdi, 85 per cent of the village was destroyed. He said the villagers did not rescue anything.
“The fire that started at about 11a.m was fanned by strong winds from the ocean a few meters away from the village,” said Mr Mahdi.
Abdulsamad Basheikh Soro who was among the first people from the local branch of the Kenya Red Cross at the scene said they were still doing the physical assessment of the situation.
“But just from a glance the situation is critical and that is why we brought along emergency supplies including blankets, tarpaulins and kitchen sets as we wait for more support from outside the district,” he said.
The villagers watched helplessly in disbelief as their houses were reduced to ashes. Lamu town does not have a fire station.
Mr Mahdi said Red Cross has mobilised first aid personnel and locals to move into the area with food, items such as blankets to help those affected.
“We have also mobilised local community members to provide food for those affected,” said Mr Mahdi.
Coast PC Ernest Munyi also appealed for food and humanitarian aid from well wishers to help the villagers.
At a press conference in Nairobi, the secretary general of the Kenya Red Cross Abbas Gullet said they have supplied the victims with "600 blankets, 600 collapsible jerricans, 300 tarpaulins, 180 kitchen sets, 600 bar soaps and clothing."
He added that two people, one of them a child, suffered minor burns.
He was accompanied by the Ali Dawood, PS Ministry of Special Programmes and the Assistant minister Muhamud Ali Mohammed.
