A seven-month pregnant woman was among the 14 people who died in the oil tanker fire on Saturday, July 17 in Siaya county.
The woman’s body – together with that of her unborn child were burned beyond recognition.
The cruel fire took both the mother and her unborn child – a double tragedy given the woman was just two months away from bringing forth another life.
A village in mourning
The distant smell of burned flesh and fading petrol, burned clothes, grass, shoes, and the tanker shell – only told half the story. Indeed, it is sad what the cold hands of death can achieve in an instant.
It has also emerged that three other women died in the blaze that has left Malanga village in Gem in deep mourning.
12 people died beyond recognition – including the pregnant woman. Others died in hospital.
A total of 24 people sustained serious burns and are currently undergoing treatment at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu.
Some families are waiting for their children, husbands, wives, uncles and parents to come back home.
Some of them know that they may never come back home – they may have been among those consumed by the fire.
They have no way of knowing – at least for now.
The driver of the tanker had warned them to keep off as the vehicle could easily burst into flames – but the warning was not heeded.
I lost my sister
Braisy Adhiambo lost her sister in the fire. She too had rushed to the scene, but then returned home almost immediately.
Although they did not join the group siphoning the oil, they stood to witness.
“We were five of us. I opted to come back to the house but before I reached, I heard a loud bang and saw a ball of flame,” she told the media – adding that three of her family members are in hospital.
There are fears many people may have died in the fire. This is not the first time lives have been lost in fuel tanker fire. It may never be the last.