NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 3 – Hundreds of people have been left homeless after yet another fire razed shanties in Woodcraft slum in Nairobi\’s industrial area.
The fire which broke out at around noon is said to have been caused by a child who was playing with a matchbox in their house.
The slum dwellers say they were not able to rescue much from the ironsheet shanties because the fire spread very fast injuring some of those who were trying to put it out.
"I was at work when I received a phone call that there was a fire. When I came I was not able to rescue anything while some of the other things were stolen in the process," said Mutui one of those whose houses burnt down.
"I was in the house watching TV when I heard shouts of fire! fire! and I came to assist," said another dweller.
Most owners of those houses were not at home when the fire broke out.
A Kenya Red Cross official who was at the scene said those affected will be assisted as soon as a meeting between the area MP Gidion Mbuvi, Kenya Red Cross officials and non-governmental organisations working in the area decide how it will be done.
"We need our councillor to come and assist us like with the issue of water. If there was enough water the damage would not have been this big," said another
They said that the fire-fighters came too late and without enough water to put out the fire.
They have appealed for assistance as they try to reconstruct their lives.
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