Big Fires

[TravelGal]

I couldn't figure out which thread to hijack so I started my own. :D All for the ease of use for Elmo T, of course.

BIG fire at Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi this morning. Will affect travel to Southern Africa and the islands of the Indian ocean for quite some time, I would think. NBO (Nairobi) is the main transfer point for many European airlines into the region. Domestic flights are scheduled to restart today but the arrivals hall for the international travel is in ashes. Pretty spectacular videos around the net.

Edit: Here's an update from Lynne Leakey (of THAT family): Thanks, APTA friends. Things being sorted as we speak..... Wilson [alternate airport] busy but all well with flights in/out of reserves [emphasis added]. A huge challenge, but Kenya dealing with it. Appreciate your well wishes.

[Elmo T]

Fire news here:


Blaze Destroys Kenya Airport Terminal
(http://www.firehouse.com/news/11079215/blaze-destroys-kenya-airport-terminal-burns-out-of-control-for-hours)


There may not have been fire engines available to respond. The country's largest newspaper, The Daily Nation, reported last month that Nairobi County doesn't have a single working fire engine, and that three fire engines were auctioned off in 2009 because the county hadn't paid a $1,000 repair bill.

"It is a disgrace of biblical proportions that the entire Nairobi County does not have a public fire engine in working condition," the paper wrote in an editorial last month.

:(:shakehead:

[TravelGal]

Fire news here:


Blaze Destroys Kenya Airport Terminal
(http://www.firehouse.com/news/11079215/blaze-destroys-kenya-airport-terminal-burns-out-of-control-for-hours)

:(:shakehead:

Maybe I've seen too many TV shows but the first thing I thought after reading that post ^^^ is that someone started the fire to make a point. Anyone who has been there knows the terminal needed to be replaced. Another reason I wondered about the origin of the fire. Hmmmm.

[TravelGal]

In fairness to Kenya, I have been told over the last few days that domestic flights began arriving almost immediately and international flights relatively soon thereafter. Flight Tracker shows all fights operating normally as of today. http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/nbo Except for the one that was cancelled but that could be unrelated.

[DagoFast]

Enquiring Alaskan minds want to know: Where is KK's jet? :gomer: