ANALYSIS SUMMARY: This analysis is based on an assessment of satellite imagery recorded on 22nd September2011 following a gas pipeline explosion that took place on 12th September 2011, within the Mukuru-Sinai slums ofNairobi, Kenya. Analysis revealed that the explosion took place in the highly congested Mukuru-Sinai slums along theriver Ngongo. This is a preliminary damage assessment, and it is likely to represent a reliable minimum estimate; theactual building damages within this area are likely to be larger.

Satellite Data (2): WV02/QB02Imagery Dates: 20/11/2010, 22/09/2011Resolution : 0.5 m/0.6 mCopyright:DigitalGlobe 2011Source: FirstLook

Analysis : UNITAR / UNOSATProduction: UNITAR / UNOSATAnalysis conducted with ArcGIS v10.0Projection: UTM Zone 37 NDatum: WGS 84

The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data shownhere are not warranted to be error-free nor do they imply official endorsement oracceptance by the United Nations. UNOSAT is a program of the United Nations

Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), providing satellite imagery andrelated geographic information, research and analysis to UN humanitarian &development agencies & their implementing partners.

UNITAR/UNOSATunosat@unitar.orgPalais des Nations,Geneva, SwitzerlandT: +41 22 767 4020 (UNOSATOperations)24/7 hotline: +41 76 487 4998

NAIROBI, KENYA 22ND SEPTEMBER 2011

Possible site of explosion

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Zone of destruction

20 0 20 40 6010Meters

This work by UNITAR/UNOSAT is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Map Scale for A4: 1:2,000 Damage zone Ngong River Destroyed buildings Severely damaged buildings

Pipeline Explosion

!!- Version 1.0UNOSAT Activation:

FR20110913KEN

Production Date:28/09/2011

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28 September 2011 - Version 1.0 UNOSAT Activation: FR20110913KEN Location: 1.31 S Latitude; 36.879 E Longitude

Overview of gas pipeline explosion in the Mukuru-Sinai slums of Nairobi, Kenya By UNITAR/UNOSAT – 28 September 2011

ANALYSIS BACKGROUND: This is a satellite-based quantitative assessment of destruction of buildings caused by recent

gas pipeline explosion within the Mukuru-Sinai slums near the Lunga Lunga industrial estate of Nairobi, Kenya. Satellite

imageries acquired on 20 November 2010 and 22 September 2011 were used for this analysis.

ANALYSIS RESULTS:

1. Damage assessment: A time series analysis of satellite imagery acquired between 20 November 2010 and 22

September 2011 were used to assess the damages to buildings and the surrounding area caused due to the explosion

of the gas pipeline. A total area of approximately 10,600 m2 was found to be significantly affected. Within this zone, a

total of 77 buildings were damaged, of which about 57 were destroyed and a further 20 were severely damaged. It

appears that gas leaked from the pipeline in to the adjacent Ngong River causing significant damage to the Ngong

river system. Figure 1 illustrates the damaged zone before and after the explosion. The roofs of the damaged buildings

were primarily made of iron and other metals. Apart from the damages to the buildings, the satellite image also

reveals a significant contamination of the river Ngong possibly due to gas leak and other debris from the destruction

zone.

Figure 1: Overview of the zones before and after the explosion

Undamaged zone before the explosion: 20 November 2010 Damaged zone after the explosion: 22 September 2011

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2. Overview of the situation: Figure 2 shows an overview of the region of Lunga Lunga industrial estate, where the

explosion occurred. There appears to be a partially exposed gas pipeline leading to the slums where the

explosion probably took place. It appears that some buildings in the Mukuru-Sinai slums have been built over the

gas pipeline. In some parts, the pipeline also traverses close to River Ngong intersecting the residential slum. The

map also reveals the KPC industries and power plants in proximity to the zone of gas explosion. The Mukuru-

Sinai slums are one of the most densely populated slums in Nairobi and the access to these slums are through

the Lunga Lunga road. It is estimated that there are about 3000 buildings covering an area of approximately

400,000 m2 to the north of the river Ngonga and adjacent to the gas pipeline.

This is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. Please send feedback to UNITAR/UNOSAT at the

contact information below.

Contact Information: Please send additions / corrections to UNITAR / UNOSAT: unosat@unitar.org Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland T: +41 22 767 4020 (UNOSAT Operations) 24/7 hotline: +41 76 487 4998

www.unitar.org/unosati

i This pipeline, owned by the Kenya Pipeline Company Ltd (KPC), is a 450 km pipeline from Mombasa port to Nairobi (Line I), the diameter of which is about 35 cm. Based on reports accessed from KPC website http://www.kpc.co.ke/ on 27/09/2011.

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Figure 2: Overview map of the region

Image date: 22 September 2011

Kenya Pipeline Company Ltd (KPC)

Zone of damage KPC Mukuru-Sinai slum Gas pipeline Ngongo river Road