The fire broke out overnight in one of the school’s dormitories, leaving more than a dozen students with serious burns. The school has about 800 students, aged between 5 and 12.
At least 17 students died in a fire that broke out at a school in central Kenya on Thursday evening. According to local authorities, cited by the BBC, More than a dozen students are in the hospital with severe burns.
The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri is still under investigation. Kenya Red Cross Society announced which would provide psychological support to affected students, teachers and families. The boarding school has around 800 students, aged between 5 and 12.
Following the tragic fire at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, the Kenya Red Cross, along with a multi-agency response team, has been on the ground to respond.
Eleven children have been taken to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.
The place is currently cordoned off…
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) September 6, 2024
Kenyan President William Ruto reacted in social networkHe described the incident as “horrible” and “devastating.” The head of state added that those responsible for the fire would be duly punished.
Our thoughts are with the families of the children who lost their lives in the fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.
This is devastating news.
We pray for a speedy recovery for the survivors.
I instruct the relevant authorities to investigate thoroughly…
– William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 6, 2024
Speaking to AFP, police spokeswoman Resila Onyango said the bodies had been recovered but were in an “unrecognizable” state. She also said they expected to find more victims as they investigated the scene.
Kenyan school fires are relatively common. In 2021, between January and November, the Ministry of Education recorded 126 occurrences nationwidewhich resulted in the arrest of 302 students. Of these, 41 appeared in court, charged with arson and destruction of property.
The ministry’s statement, cited by the BBC, lists the possible reasons for this “epidemic” of school fires. These include: overcrowding, poor relations between teachers and students, drugs and one inadequate follow-up within schools. They added that educational institutions were not entirely to blame, but that parents were also overprotective of their children when they were accused of misbehaving, limiting the punishments given by teachers.
In 2017, 10 students died Similarly, at Moi Girls High School in the capital Nairobi, the culprit, aged 14, was sentenced to five years in prison when she came of age. The most serious case, however, occurred more than 20 years ago, when 67 students were victims of the fire in the southeast of the capital, in Machakos.
Source: Observadora
