[FONT=inherit][FONT=inherit]FOUR villas and a cottage worth million of shillings were on Wednesday reduced to ashes by a fire at Diani town in Kwale county. They include St James, Punda Milia, Villa Mapenzi and Manyatta green cottages.
Manyatta Green Cottages manager Mary Wanjiru said the fire started at the bar before spreading to the cottages. She said two stores and seven rental houses were burnt down during the afternoon incident.
Unknown numbers of tourists who had booked some rooms at the cottage escaped unhurt although they lost all documents. Wanjiru said the cause of the fire has not been established although it is blamed on an electric fault.
Msambweni subcounty commissioner Benjamin Leparmorijo said the fire might have been caused by electric fault. He said there is need for all constructors to observe safety regulations when constructing houses.
“From the look of things the fire was caused by electric fault and we therefore urge building contractors to be very careful when constructing so that such problem can be avoided in future," he said.
Leparmorijo said hotel owners should have fire fighting equipments in their compounds. The county government was also asked to secure fire engine because the available fire engine belongs to Ukunda Airstrip.
BRON
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