At five o'clock in the afternoon, the terrible fire that apparently broke out inside the Mbuyu Lodge, on Watamu's central street (investigations are under way by the local authorities to confirm the impressions of dozens of witnesses) was for the most part put out.
The strong wind, the makuti roofs (as always) and the vegetation were the vectors of the flames that almost completely destroyed the Barracuda Inn Resort, which is Italian-owned and where about 180 tourists, mostly clients of the Alpitour tour-operator, were staying.
Almost all of them managed to escape in time, spilling onto the beach, and only two Italian tourists were admitted with minor burns to the District Hospital in Malindi, Kenya, where they were judged 'not life-threatening'. 
The Alpitour tourists have already been resettled in the tour operator's other facilities, Garoda and Jacaranda, and Roberto Lenzi, owner of Crystal Bay Resort and Seve Island, has also made available the few free rooms he has for those left without accommodation and probably without personal belongings. Damage also occurred at the Mapango restaurant, where the flames fortunately stopped, without affecting the structure, the kitchens and the adjacent Lily Palm resort. Other damage was reported in private houses and residences. The Farnesina's Crisis Unit, through its app, has promptly warned Italian tourists who had registered with "Dovesiamonelmondo" and through the Honorary Consulate in Malindi will provide assistance, for example to redo documents that were lost in the fire. The Italian Embassy in Nairobi is in constant communication with the Honorary Consul in Malindi and his assistants to monitor the situation of our compatriots.