Mombasa, Kenya: A fierce fire has engulfed Cannon Towers one of the landmark buildings in Mombasa town.
Cannon Towers in Mombasa Town. Several people were trapped in the top floors after the building caught fire. (Photo:Maarufu Mohammed/Standard)
Dozens of people are trapped on the 6th, 7th and 8th floors of the 10 storey building with fire fighters unable to reach them because the stairs cases have caught fireand the lifts have stalled.
Besides the threat to human life, valuable investments including Baraka FM - the oldest private FM station in Coast province which is housed on the buildings 7th floor.
The station went off air about an hour after the firebegan and it was not clear if fire had gutted it or if any staff members were injured.
Several parked cars were threatened by the fire which was descending fast in a building that hosts most Mombasa-based clearing and forwarding firms.
Reporters on the ground could hear, mostly, male victims trapped on burning floors calling for help amid thick smoke and flying debris.
It is believed the fire which began at around 6.30 am was caused by an electrical fire on the 8th floor which sparked an instant fire.
Fire fighters from the Mombasa County Government and KenyaPorts Authority arrived on the scene but were unable to access the burning floor immediately due to the ferocity of the flames and lack of lifts.
They watched helplessly as their water-hoses could not reach the burning floors.
Besides, the rescue teams lack equipment to climb the floors or extinguish parts of the buildings that were still intact.
Particles from burning debris were flying across town and authorities closed major streets including Moi Avenue.
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