A fire broke out at Yare Plaza along Yusuf Haji Avenue in Eastleigh on Tuesday afternoon, sending thick plumes of smoke billowing across the busy Nairobi neighbourhood.

Firefighters and police officers rushed to the scene as the blaze tore through several floors of the multi-storey building. The inferno is believed to have started on the second floor in a shop selling kanzus before quickly spreading to the first floor — which houses, among other businesses, a money transfer bureau — and later to the ground floor.

Three people were rescued from a mosque located on the upper floor of the building. However, several others are feared injured after reportedly jumping from upper floors in a desperate attempt to escape the flames.

The thick smoke that engulfed the area forced nearby businesses to shut down, including Eastleigh Mall. Security officers were deployed to prevent individuals who attempted to take advantage of the chaos from accessing nearby premises.

Tension gripped Yusuf Haji Avenue as police engaged in running battles with sections of the crowd while trying to secure the scene. There were also fears of a possible gas explosion from cylinders used by a restaurant operating on the second floor.

At one point, residents were forced to use buckets to help contain the fire after a fire engine reportedly ran out of water. A second engine later arrived to reinforce efforts, although it too temporarily left the scene after exhausting its supply.

The blaze was finally brought under control at around 5:10pm. Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the fire.