Fire At School Dormitory In Kenya; At Least 17 Students Killed

At least 17 students have been killed after a dormitory at a boarding school in central Kenya caught fire in the early hours of Friday. Over a dozen more have been admitted to the hospital with severe burns, raising fears that the number of fatalities may increase.

The incident occurred at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, a primary school comprising around 800 pupils. Over 150 pupils were in the dormitory when it caught fire. Authorities are yet to determine the cause of the fire. Kenya's President William Ruto called the incident "horrific" and "devastating" and has ordered an urgent probe into the tragedy. Ruto wrote on social media that those responsible will be held to account.

Police spokesperson Resila Onyango informed AFP that recovered bodies are "burnt beyond recognition." The spokesperson also noted that "more bodies are likely to be recovered once the scene is fully processed."

According to a BBC report, school fires are not uncommon in boarding schools in Kenya. In 2017, an arson attack at a school in Nairobi claimed the lives of 10 students. The deadliest school arson in Kenya occurred more than 20 years ago in Machakos County, where at least 67 students died.