Fire sweeps through Kenyan slum

Thousands of residents have been left homeless by the fire

A huge fire has destroyed hundreds of houses in a slum area of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The overnight blaze fanned by the wind, destroyed tin and timber houses in the South B neighbourhood.

An official said the authorities were trying to find shelter for the thousands who had been made homeless. The cause of the blaze is unknown, but reports from Nairobi say some residents suspect they are being forced out to make way for new roads.

Congested slum

No information has come out about the scale of the casualties if any.

In pictures

Mohammed Sheikh, the area district officer said some 4,500 people have been rendered homeless by the fires.

Most of the slum dwellers were caught unawares by the fire which started while they were having dinner.

"We could not put down the fire because it became very big, very fast, because of the wind. The next thing I know I was running for my life," resident George Maina told AP news agency.

Officials say the congested nature of the slum prevented fire engines from reaching the blaze.

Another resident said they suspected the fire was part of a government plan to remove them.

"It has asked us to leave for sometime now, but people have refused," said Joseph Ouma.

A major fire in another slum area last month left half of Nairobi without power for two days.