A late-night fire swept through a girls’ secondary school dormitory in Gilgil, Kenya, claiming the lives of at least 16 students and leaving 79 others injured, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The blaze reportedly started shortly after midnight at Utumishi Girls’ Academy and burned for over two hours before being brought under control. Government officials said the exact cause is still under investigation.
According to early accounts from survivors, the fire may have begun after a student allegedly set a mattress alight, though officials have urged the public not to jump to conclusions until investigations are complete.
Many of the victims were trapped on the upper floor, where doors were said to have been locked. Some students reportedly tried to escape by jumping from windows as the flames spread rapidly through the building.
Emergency responders transported dozens of injured students to nearby hospitals, with most treated and discharged.
School fires have been a recurring issue in Kenya in recent years, often linked to student unrest or poor living conditions. Past incidents have also resulted in significant loss of life.
Families gathered outside the school in the aftermath, anxiously searching for information about their children as rescue and recovery efforts continued.
