FIVE women lost sources of their livelihoods after fiearce fire burnt down Export Processing Zone Authority's dumping site in Athi River on Monday.
The fire that broke out at around 5.30 in the evening razed all assorted items which had been collected by the women ready for transportation to their customers with businesses away from the zone.
Joyce Nthenya, one of the victims said the items include cartons, clothes and materials, polythene bags and plastic containers which they had assorted and packed ready for transportation.
"We have lost all our collections to the fire, we had all assorted our best items and packed them ready to transport to the market as usual," said Nthenya.
The single mother of three said she had worked at the site for the last 15 years and termed it as the only source of her livelihood.
Mavoko Sub County deputy fire brigade supervisor, Dennis Masila said it took their engine eight minutes to get to the scene after receiving a call from the zone's management.
Masila said they were unable to put out the fire due to strong wind, high flames and vastness of the damping site prompting them to seek services of a bull dozer tractor to break through the gabbage.
He said cause of the fire which took them four hours to completely contain had not been established though investigations were on.