Breaking News / Airport Fire Traps Zambian Travelers for 5 Days; Taiwanese Tourists Finally Rescued

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Taipei

A major fire broke out at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya early on the 7th, causing widespread flight disruptions. Taiwanese tourists who were stranded posted messages on Facebook seeking help from Taiwan. According to the latest update from the Tourism Bureau, members of tour groups have been notified, and one group has already secured flight seats and is preparing to return to Taiwan later.


▲ Fire at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Kenya’s capital. (Photo / Taken from the Daily Mail website)

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a key aviation hub in East Africa, was suddenly hit by a massive fire in the early hours of the 7th local time. The international arrivals terminal was completely destroyed, throwing flight schedules into chaos and affecting other flights departing from the airport. A total of 23 tourists from two Taiwanese travel agencies—Sunny Skies Travel Service and Hao Fu Travel Service—were en route to Zambia via connecting flights at the Kenyan airport but got stranded at the Zambian airport due to the fire. It has now been five days, and the travelers are anxious and helpless. Some even posted on Facebook pleading for help: “Can someone please come to our aid?”

According to the Tourism Bureau, there are currently 23 people stranded, including 23 tourists from Hao Fu Travel Service (who had originally planned to return to Taiwan on August 10) and Sunny Skies International Travel Service (who had planned to return on August 8), who are unable to go back due to the airport closure. In addition, there are still ongoing tour groups in Kenya: 19 people from Hao Fu Travel Service, 13 from Modern Travel Service, and 21 from Sunny Skies International Travel Service. Other travel groups’ itineraries remain unaffected and are proceeding as scheduled.

The Tourism Bureau stated that after the families of some stranded tourists reported the situation to the bureau yesterday (the 11th), at 11:00 AM today, it contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of West Asian and African Affairs and the Taipei Representative Office in South Africa to assist in understanding the operational status of the Kenyan airport. According to the latest information received, local travel agencies have been notified and can arrange for one group of tourists to board flights. The travelers will first fly to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya and then transfer in Bangkok to return to Taiwan. Further confirmation of future flight arrangements is still needed. The Tourism Bureau will continue to maintain close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the travel agencies.