The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) said Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) had been closed and passengers evacuated¹.

 

Cabinet secretary for transport Michael Kamau said the fire was "very severe" and urged people to stay away from the airport.

 

Images showed flames raging from one of the main buildings.

 

The interior ministry² tweeted that an evacuation of the entire airport was under way, with only essential personnel remaining, but said the fire had been contained.

 

There have been no reports of any casualties and the cause of the fire is not clear. 

 

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is an important regional hub for East Africa, with many long-distance flights landing there to connect to countries across the region.

 

 

Dark smoke could be seen billowing（像巨浪般汹涌） into the sky across much of Nairobi as the fire - which began at approximately 05:00 local time - took hold.

 

Shocked would-be passengers stood outside the airport, bags in hand, watching the blaze. 

 

The BBC's David Okwembah, who is at the airport, says many ambulances are going to the scene as well as fire engines.

 

He said a junior police officer told the BBC the fire had started at the airport's immigration zone, although this has not been confirmed.

 

Multiple reports say the arrivals and immigration sections have been devastated³ by the blaze.

 

The BBC's Anne Soy in Nairobi quotes the government as saying fire engines are running dangerously low on water and tankers⁴ are being used to ferry water to the airport.

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