Breaking News / Kenya Airport Fire Causes Flight Chaos, 23 Taiwanese Stranded: Who Will Save Us?

Reported by You Tzu-ju / Taipei

A fire at a Kenyan airport has also affected Taiwanese travelers. A major blaze broke out early on the morning of the 7th at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, causing widespread flight disruptions. It is understood that 20 Taiwanese travelers have now been stranded there for five days, and starting today (the 12th), Kenya Airways will suspend all food and accommodation support for Taiwanese passengers. Taiwanese travelers have posted messages on Facebook crying out, “Who will save us?”


▲A major fire broke out at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in the Kenyan capital, which may severely impact Kenya’s tourism and economy. (Photo / from Daily Mail website)

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a major air transport hub in East Africa, suddenly caught fire early on the morning of the 7th local time. The international arrivals terminal was completely destroyed, causing major flight disruptions at the airport and affecting other flights departing from Kenya to other destinations. A total of 23 members from two Taiwanese tour groups—Sunshine Travel Service and Hao Fu Travel Service—were transiting through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya en route to Zambia for a trip, but got stranded at the Zambia airport due to the fire. As of now, it has been five days, and the travelers are anxious and helpless. Some even posted on Facebook pleading for help, “Can someone come and help us?”

It is understood that among the stranded travelers, 11 are from Sunshine Travel Service and 12 are from Hao Fu Travel Service, having been stuck in Zambia for three and five days respectively. Tour leader Xu Mao-hsiung from Phoenix Travel Service, after contacting the leaders of the tour groups, told reporters that Kenya Airways is reluctant to provide seats due to concerns about insufficient capacity at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport if passengers are flown in. Moreover, Kenya Airways has taken a tough stance, stating that it will cancel all food and accommodation subsidies for Taiwanese passengers starting today. If no flights are arranged soon, the Taiwanese travelers may be left stranded with nowhere to go.

“As soon as the group members heard my voice, they burst into tears,” said Xu Mao-hsiung. Flights from Zambia to Nairobi operated by Kenya Airways only run on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Since Taiwan does not have an office in East Africa, the tour leaders on-site have almost no options. Even though they want to first go to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, Kenya Airways has been slow to provide seats. For now, they can only hope that someone will lend a hand to help the Taiwanese travelers get home.