Al-Qaeda operatives detonated explosives at the U.S. embassy, Nairobi. August 7, 1998. [File, Standard]

On this day 23 years ago, Al-Qaeda operatives detonated truck laden explosives at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in a near-simultaneous attack that killed 224 people and wounded over 2,000. 

Dramatic photos show the devastating aftermath of the explosion in Nairobi, the fear and sadness at the inexplicable loss of life, the recovery efforts that took place, and the scars it left behind. Above all, how Kenyans found strength through adversity. 

They include:

 

Prudence Bushnell, then-US Ambassador to Kenya being rescued from the embassy. [File, Standard]

 

Aerial view of the US embassy, August 7, 1998. [File, Standard]

 

City residents at the blast site, August 7, 1998. [File, Standard]

 

Cars on fire at the blast site, August 7, 1998. [File, Standard]

 

Responders assisting KBS bus passengers. [File, Standard]

 

Rubble, the aftermath of the 1998 US embassy bombing. [File, Standard]

 

Ufundi House after the 1998 US embassy bombing. [File, Standard]

 

Smoke billowing from the blast site, 1998. [File, Standard]

 

August 7 bomb blast car. [File Standard]

 

A plaque bearing the names of the victims at the memorial garden, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama bows his head after laying a wreath at Memorial Park on the former site of the U.S. Embassy, July 25, 2015. [Reuters]