A fire broke out this Monday morning in a commercial building near the bustling Nyabugogo taxi park, commonly known as Kwa Yakobo. The building, which houses a variety of businesses including restaurants, guest lodges, and other small enterprises, was quickly engulfed in flames.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported a rapid escalation of the blaze. “There was a sound like wires exploding, then smoke and flames followed almost immediately,” one witness recounted, suggesting an electrical origin for the fire.
The Rwanda National Police Fire and Rescue Brigade responded swiftly to the emergency. Within minutes of the alarm, fire trucks arrived, and firefighters immediately began operations to extinguish the inferno. Their rapid intervention was crucial in preventing the fire from spreading throughout the entire building or to nearby structures in one of Kigali’s busiest commercial areas.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. Preliminary reports point towards an electrical fault as the likely origin. In light of the incident, the public is being urged to ensure regular inspection and maintenance of power installations, particularly in older or crowded buildings, to prevent similar occurrences.
This incident has reignited calls for tighter enforcement of fire safety standards across Kigali’s commercial zones, especially in high-traffic and densely populated areas like Nyabugogo, to safeguard lives and property.
