Sixteen students have been killed in a fire at a boarding school in Gilgil, about 120km (77 miles) west of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the authorities have confirmed.
Dozens of other students were injured and taken to hospital, 71 were later discharged and seven admitted for further treatment, Education Minister Julius Ogamba said while visiting the scene of the blaze.
The fire at the Utumishi Girls Academy started in the early hours of Thursday while the students were asleep.
Police said search and rescue operations were under way with authorities yet to establish the cause of the fire. The Kenya Red Cross said emergency responders were on ground to offer support.
The education minister said the fire broke out on the first floor of one of the dormitories, which was “completely destroyed” in the blaze.
Earlier, speaking to parents and crowds outside the school, police commander Masoud Mwinyi said: “It is a sad and distressing situation.”
Fires are not uncommon in Kenyan boarding schools, with several deadly incidents reported in recent years.
Many have been the result of arson, with disgruntled pupils, angry about the discipline and living conditions, accused of being responsible, while others were caused by accident.
Overcrowding in dormitories and the failure to follow safety guidelines, such as keeping exits clear and windows unlocked, have frequently been blamed for the high number of casualties.
According to the police, the fire in Gilgil broke out around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT Wednesday) and engulfed a dormitory block housing about 220 students.
Mwinyi said some students fled into nearby areas during the chaos and were still being traced.
“As we speak, our officers are combing the area because some students fled in shock and fear during the night,” he said.
Mwinyi said investigations were ongoing. The school has been cordoned off, with only parents being allowed inside the compound.
BBC/Titilayo Kupoliyi
Edited by Maxwell Oyekunle
Follow us on Telegram and YouTube, and join our WhatsApp Update Group for more updates.
