Terminal 1C at JKIA cordoned off for almost 12hrs after fire incident

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Wednesday cordoned off Terminal 1C at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a fire incident at around 11:44pm.

KAA said the fire was caused by a baggage belt system malfunction and broke out at check-in counters number 7 and 8.

“We regret any inconvenience cased by this incident and would like to assure the general public that we are working to ensure that Terminal 1C is reopened for normal operations as soon as possible,” the authority said.

All the passengers and staff at the terminal were reportedly evacuated safely by the airport fire team with no injuries reported throughout the incident.

Following the incident, Terminal 1C that handles international departures was temporarily  closed down and flight operations moved to the adjacent Terminal 1B.

At around 11am, normal operations resumed and the terminal was reopened.

“Operations have resumed at JKIA’s Terminal 1C following last night’s minor fire incident that affected the terminal’s counters 6 and 7. The terminal is currently servicing Departure flight operations by Etihad, Air Arabia, Rwand Air, Ethopian and Swiss Intl. Airlines,” KAA said.

On March 28, the authority had indicated that JKIA surpassed the regulatory requirements for fire cover.

They assured the public that the airports authority was capable of coping with ‘any emergency likely to occur at the airport’.

“KAA has made a strategic decision to revamp our airport rescue firefighting services even as we continue to invest in training and equipping our firefighters with tools of work,” KAA said.