Tourists Stranded as Fire Razes Down Multiple Beach Hotels

Residents watch as fire razes down hotels and businesses in Watamu, Kilifi County, on Wednesday February 22, 2023.

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Samuel Kapombe

“The fire started off from a nearby hotel and spread to three others within the same location. I fear it might spread to other premises,” one of the locals told Taifa Leo.

Among the beach hotels gutted by the fire included a popular restaurant frequented by foreign tourists.

However, residents teamed up to extinguish the fire, stopping it from spreading to nearby business premises.

By the time of this publication, the cause of the fire was yet established. Preliminary reports also indicated that no casualties were reported.

Kilifi County had also not issued a statement regarding the fire and plans for the affected businesses and families.

In January, a boat full of tourists capsized in Watamu. Reports indicated that the boat was hit by a strong wave and capsized, leaving three people , including the five-year-old who was on holiday with his parents from Nairobi and two other residents of Watamu, dead.

Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve Warden Dadley Kiluhula, confirmed the accident stating that 26 people were rescued.

The fire on tourist beach hotel came amid Kenya tourism sector recovery following the ravaging effects of the pandemic.

International tourist arrivals jumped by more than 70 per cent, pointing at a new trajectory in the tourism sector, accounting for almost 10 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Watamu is one of Kenya’s popular destinations for tourists.