Massive Fire Destroys Nairobi Airport Terminal

Stephen Pope

Thursday, August 08, 2013 at 08:15 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Nairobi's main international airport terminal was destroyed by a massive fire, though international flights quickly resumed from temporary tents.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but its intensity was exacerbated by an inadequate and slow firefighting response.
As East Africa's busiest airport, the blaze caused significant air travel disruption across the continent, with reconstruction expected to take many months.

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International flights from Nairobi’s fire-damaged airport resumed on Thursday after a massive blaze a day earlier destroyed the main terminal.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but the blaze turned into an inferno in part because of the slow response from firefighters who were inadequately prepared for the emergency. Photos and video show the extent of the damage, which gutted the terminal and destroyed electrical and mechanical systems. The airport is now operating from temporary tents to keep international passengers moving.