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Nairobi airport closed after huge fire, shutting down international flights

By CAROLINE LEE, UPI.com

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi remains partly closed after a huge fire broke out.

The four-hour blaze halted travel when it spread to the international arrivals area, bringing East Africa's busiest airport to a standstill.

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The fire has been contained, despite a dangerously low supply of water to fire engines.

The airport has since been partially reopened for domestic and cargo flights. International passenger traffic is still suspended while airport authorities convert part of the airport into a temporary terminal. International arrivals are expected to resume Thursday.

The damage will leave the airport and the region debilitated during the height of tourism season.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The blaze comes on the 15th anniversary of deadly terror attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

There were no deaths, so authorities do not see terrorism as the cause of the fire, said Manoah Esipisu, a presidential spokesman.

“There is no reason to speculate at this point,” Mr. Esipisu said.

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