A devastating fire swept through a girls' boarding school in Kenya's Nakuru County overnight, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 students and leaving dozens more injured. The incident, one of the deadliest school fires in the country's recent history, has sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond.
Chaos in Gilgil Town
The blaze broke out shortly after midnight at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil town, situated approximately 120 kilometers northwest of the capital, Nairobi. According to witness reports, the fire raged for more than two hours before emergency services were able to bring the flames under control.
Education Minister Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed that while 16 lives were lost, 79 students sustained injuries. Most of the injured had been discharged from the hospital by Thursday afternoon, though the emotional toll remains profound.
"We have 16 fatalities. It's an unfortunate incident… on behalf of the Ministry of Education and on my own behalf, I wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and relatives of the learners who lost their lives in this sorrowful incident," Minister Ogamba stated.
Rapid Spread and Ongoing Investigation
Television images from the scene depicted a grim landscape of smoke-blackened walls and shattered dormitory windows, with anxious parents gathered outside the school compound searching for news of their missing daughters.
Parents have shared harrowing accounts of the event. Eunice Mureithi, whose daughter survived the blaze, noted that students described flames spreading with terrifying speed. "The fire started from an upper dome and spread all over within that time," she recounted, adding that many students were fortunately able to escape.
Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the fire. Minister Ogamba has urged the public to avoid speculation as forensic teams continue their detailed examination of the scene to determine exactly how the tragedy unfolded.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
