Mombasa: Suspected Bomb Explodes Inside Docked Ship Near African Marine Dry Dock

The cause of the Mombasa explosion is yet to be established, but investigations have been launched into the incident

Nation.Africa reported that the loud bang also caused a fire that damaged parts of the vessel, christened East Wind 2

Meanwhile, witnesses said the Tuesday, December 26 explosion was accompanied by a ball of fire and black smoke

Dennis Lubanga, a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than 10 years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Mombasa - An explosion suspected to be a bomb has gone off inside an oil ship that had docked around the Liwatoni area at the Mombasa port.

NTV reported that the injured people have been rushed to the hospital for specialised treatment.

The incident occurred on the vessel next to the African Marine Dry Dock.

The cause of the explosion is yet to be established, but investigations have been launched into the incident.

How the Mombasa explosion damaged the ship

The explosion also caused nearby houses in the coastal city to shake.

Nation.Africa reported that the loud bang also caused a fire that damaged parts of the vessel, christened East Wind 2.

Tugs and fire engines from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) immediately rushed to extinguish the fire, while people at the scene were quickly evacuated by rescue scenes.

Mombasa Central Police boss Maxwell Agoro told journalists that he was leading officers who had been dispatched to launch investigations.

Witnesses said the Tuesday, December 26 explosion was accompanied by a ball of fire and black smoke.

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that eight people were killed after a powerful explosion at the main fuel depot in Guinea, followed by a fire that rocked the centre of the capital, Conakry, early on Monday, December 18.

How the Guinea explosion happened

Schools were closed, and workers were told to stay at home as thick black smoke filled the sky.

Residents fled the area where the blast occurred, as images on social networks showed.

The incident happened at around midnight (0000 GMT) at the state oil company's main depot in the Kaloum district of Conakry, near the port.

"Eight charred bodies were brought to the morgue of the Ignace Deen hospital," a senior official at the facility said.

Dozens of people were injured, a doctor and residents told AFP.

"It was a deafening noise that woke us up," a resident told AFP.

"The windows of our home and those of our neighbours were smashed. We managed to get away from the place," he added.

Dansa Kourouma, head of the National Transitional Council (CNT), the parliament appointed by the ruling military junta, said the fire had caused "extensive damage, including the loss of human life."

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power after a 2021 coup, called for "solidarity and prayer for the nation in this difficult time" while the results of an investigation ordered by the government are awaited.