53 injured in stampede after explosion in garment plant

By Linah Benyawa

Kilifi, Kenya:  Fifty-three people were injured following a stampedeat a garment factory in Mazeras, Kilifi County.

The Monday evening incident occurred after one of the machines developed electrical problems and exploded.

Several people fainted, while others sustained injuries as panic-gripped workers fled for safety.

About a dozen victims remain admitted to various hospitals in Mombasa and Kilifi with broken limbs, burns and fractures after the commotion sparked by an electrical fault.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Mariakani OCPD Beatrice Gachago said six people sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Coast Provincial General Hospital in Mombasa.

Six others were taken to St Lukes Hospital in Kaloleni where they were also admitted.

“Forty-one workers who sustained minor injuries from the stampede were treated in nearby health centres and discharged. But there were no deaths following the incident,” said Gachago.

The stampede was occasioned by a huge explosion traced to an electrical fault.  Unconfirmed reports said 1,000 workers, mostly women, were at the facility when the incident occurred at 4pm.

Union officials have questioned safety conditions in many export processing zones in Mombasa and its satellite towns.

Full operation

The Standard was unable to contact the ill-fated firm’s management although there were reports that the plant had resumed full operations by on Tuesday morning.

Investigation has been launched. to determine the cause of the incident.

There was fear from earlier reports that the building was on fire and fire engines and ambulances from Mombasa rushed to the scene.

“But on reaching there, they found quite a number of people injured from the stampede. Fortunately, nothing had been burnt and neither was the garment company on fire,” she added.

The company houses over 1,000 employees, with majority living in surrounding villages.