Cape Town – A senior official at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport says there is confusion at the airport after a “massive” fire broke out, shutting down one of east Africa’s most important transport hubs and causing serious damage, a report says.

According to Standard media, fire fighters at the airport were overwhelmed, forcing them to seek the help from the private sector and the Nairobi City Council.

Kenya’s government was quoted by eNCA as saying no casualities have been reported so far, adding that the fire crew was “dangerously” low on water”.

Interior Principle Secretary Mutea Iringo said they were monitoring and coordinating the response services.

“We are there and monitoring the situation,” he said.

Sky News quoted the transport minister as saying “people should just keep off the entire airport”.

The fire happened a day after thousands of passengers were on Monday night stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after a hitch with fuel supply to planes.

Several flights were cancelled after the pipeline supplying fuel to the airport malfunctioned. It is definitely going to affect operations again.

eNCA reported that the airport has been closed and passengers have been evacuated.