A fire has broken out at Lotus House near Afya Centre in Nairobi’s Central Business District, causing panic as emergency teams respond to the scene.
According to preliminary reports, several people are believed to be trapped inside the building as firefighters work to contain the blaze.
The fire is reported to have started on the first floor of the building before spreading quickly.
People at the scene initially tried to put out the flames using fire extinguishers, but the efforts were unsuccessful because of the intensity of the fire.
The incident also disrupted traffic along Tom Mboya Street as large crowds gathered to watch the rescue operation.
There were also concerns that the fire could spread to a nearby petrol station located close to Afya Centre, although emergency responders moved quickly to prevent the situation from worsening.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Lotus House is home to several private businesses, commercial offices and retail shops.
