Video: Fire engulfs Nairobi's international airport

A huge fire has closed Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and diverted flights to regional cities in Kenya. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Firefighters are battling to put out the blaze at East Africa's biggest transport hub and the cause of the fire is not yet known.

AP reports that no injuries have been reported and Stephen Gichuki, director of the Kenyan Airports Authority, has reassured international and local passengers that "arrangements are being put in place to restore normal operations. The airlines are working to assist stranded passengers and advise them on the measures being put in place to resume services at JKIA."

According to AFP, dramatic plumes of black smoke billowed out of the main arrivals terminal and at 9am, four hours after the fire broke out, firefighters had succeeded in stemming the raging flames.

Senior interior ministry official Mutea Iringo said: "Apart from emergency landings, all flights into and out of JKIA have been cancelled ... (the) airport has been shut down."

Tens of thousands of passengers are expected to be affected by the airport's closure as regional airports have limited capacity and will struggle to handle all the travellers that land in Nairobi.

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