Leopard Beach Resort & Spa on Diani Beach on Kenya’s south coast, has suffered fire damage.

Tourism Update reported on May 28 that the hotel was scheduled to reopen on June 29 following annual repair and maintenance work.

The resort said in a statement that the fire started at about 02:15 on May 31, when the night receptionist saw that the makuti thatched roof near the grill room was on fire.

By 04:15 the fire had been contained by staff and neighbouring hotels through an in-house fire-fighting ring main water system, portable fire pumps and a Kenya Airports Authority fire engine stationed at Diani airstrip.

Damage is mostly to the makuti roofs, however the main restaurant, coffee lounge, grillroom, laundry, linen stores and several offices suffered damage.

“The cause of the fire is unknown but no foul play is suspected. The fire insurance adjuster is on site and once debris has been cleared, we will be able to determine when we will be fully up and running again – it should only take a few months,” said the resort.

For enquiries, contact Martha Mbae on (+254) 721 324305 or Misbah Gilani on (+254) 725 966644.