A massive fire has broken out at Yare Plaza in Eastleigh, Nairobi, with fears that hundreds of people are trapped inside the building. Firefighters from Nairobi City County have arrived at the scene to contain the blaze and aid evacuation. Traffic in the area has ground to a halt amid gathering crowds.
A massive fire broke out at Yare Plaza, a business complex in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Photos and videos depict thick black smoke billowing from windows and the structure engulfed in flames. Individuals stranded on upper floors were seen escaping by sliding down cables and ropes to adjacent buildings.
The blaze has caused severe traffic disruptions, with heavy congestion of people and vehicles on the bustling local roads. Firefighters from Nairobi City County responded to the site to suppress the fire and help evacuate those inside. Residents noted that the cause remains unknown.
This event occurs against a backdrop of increasing fire incidents in Nairobi since the year's start, impacting both homes and commercial sites. Just a week prior, a large fire ravaged a residential building in Kangemi, destroying property worth millions and displacing several families. The Kenya Red Cross verified that blaze took place along Marega Road in the Bata area on the evening of Wednesday, February 26. Security officials stated they will investigate the cause of that earlier incident.