UPDATE: The death toll from the fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County has risen to 16, as confirmed by police in Nakuru. 74 students remain hospitalised with varying degrees of injuries.
At least 10 students are feared dead following a fire outbreak at a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, during the early hours of Thursday, sparking panic among parents, teachers, and residents who gathered outside the institution.
According to reports, the blaze started at around 1am, although the Kenya Red Cross said the incident was formally reported at about 3.30am as emergency response teams rushed to the school to contain the fire and assist affected students.
“Following a fire incident reported at around 3:30am at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, Kenya Red Cross responded to support the ongoing emergency response,” stated Kenya Red Cross.
The humanitarian organisation said its psychosocial support teams had already been dispatched to the school to help traumatised students, parents, and teachers as uncertainty remained over the full extent of the tragedy.
“Our first responders, E-Plus ambulance crew and our psychosocial support personnel are currently on the ground supporting affected students alongside other responders and relevant authorities,” stated Kenya Red Cross.
Police officers together with detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations were deployed to the school immediately after the incident, with authorities beginning a head count to establish how many students were in the dormitory when the fire broke out.
Rift Valley Regional Commander Masoud Munyi said only parents would be allowed access to the school compound as the head count exercise continued.
“We have deployed our officers and DCI detectives to the school, and a head count is currently underway to establish exactly how many students were present at the time of the fire. For now, only parents will be allowed access into the school,” stated Masoud.
Parents flocked to the school in large numbers after news of the incident spread across Gilgil and neighbouring areas, with police restricting entry as investigations and rescue operations continued.
Despite police allowing parents into the school, some parents say they are unaware of the situation concerning their children.
The injured students were reportedly rushed to St Josephs Hospital for treatment and medical assessment.
This is an incident that adds to the rising wave of fire outbreaks that have forced schools to close indefinitely.
