Over fifty families were rendered homeless after a fire razed an apartment building in the Njoguini area in Athiriver on Thursday night.
According to reports, the fire, which started around 8:00 pm, resulted in the loss of property of unknown value.
The blaze was reportedly caused by a gas cylinder burst, with the flames quickly spreading from the initial house to neighboring structures.
The Machakos County fire team and police responded swiftly to contain the fire; however, by the time emergency services arrived, most houses had already been severely affected.
Athiriver area police have confirmed that no casualties were reported, as residents were able to evacuate safely before the fire spread to other buildings.
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Affected residents described the harrowing experience of fleeing their homes with minimal belongings as the fire rapidly consumed their properties.
"I saw the fire from afar and I ran back home. I grabbed my children and ran outside. I didn't get to save anything else," one resident stated.
Another resident expressed frustration with the response time and appealed for government assistance.
"The fire started around 8:00pm, and burnt down everything. I've lost everything. The county council did come, but it was too late. Now I'm asking for the government to help us because we don't have a place to sleep," the resident said.
The affected families are now grappling with the immediate challenge of finding temporary accommodation while assessing the full extent of their losses.
About two weeks ago, another fire razed down a residential estate in the Katani area in Syokimau, leaving people counting millions of shillings in losses.
The previous incident occurred at Katani Villas, a gated residential estate along Katani Road, where property worth millions was destroyed on the night of September 4, 2025.
That fire began around 7:30 pm and rapidly spread through several homes, forcing families to flee for their safety.
Emergency crews from both Machakos and Nairobi counties had responded to that incident, with thick smoke visible as far as Mombasa Road.
The firefighting operation continued late into the night as crews battled the fast-spreading flames. Several houses were reduced to shells before the blaze was finally contained.
