The death toll from a devastating fire at a central Kenyan school early Friday has risen to 17, authorities have confirmed.
The blaze erupted at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) north of Nairobi, engulfing a dormitory and leaving it in ruins.
Several critically injured students have been rushed to Mathari Mission Hospital and Nyeri County Referral Hospital for urgent medical treatment, according to Kenya’s government spokesperson, Isaac Maigua Mwaura.
“The affected dormitory housed boys from grades 4 to 8. A total of 156 boys were residing in the dormitory,” Mwaura stated.
Emergency services are still working to determine the final number of casualties, with further updates expected as more information becomes available.
The fire was so intense that many victims have been burned beyond recognition, making identification difficult, local media reported.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to establish the cause of the fire.
This tragedy comes after a similar incident in 2017, when a fire at Moi Girls’ School in Nairobi claimed the lives of nine students, which was later determined to be an act of arson.
Further details on the cause of the fire and the ongoing investigation are awaited.
