A fire at a school in the African country of Kenya left 17 students dead and 13 others seriously burned this week.
On Thursday, police officials in Kenya reported that a fire broke out at a school dormitory at the Hillside Endarasha Primary school in the county of Nyeri. The school holds students up to the age of 14. Police spokesperson Resila Onyango said that officials were actively investigating the fire.
According to the Nyeri County Commissioner Pius Murugu, the school dormitory that caught fire housed 150 boys ranging from ages of 10 to 14. The fire was able to spread rapidly through the dormitory mainly because it is made up of wooden planks.
The private school, with an enrollment of 824 students, is situated in the central highlands, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Nairobi, where wooden buildings are a common sight.
While speaking with local journalists, Nyeri County Governor Mutahi Kahiga said that rescue efforts were limited due to muddy roads in the area near the school. Grief-stricken parents, unable to locate their children among the survivors, anxiously waited at the school.
John Rukwaro told reporters that his 11-year-old grandson was missing, and despite checking local hospitals, he had found no trace of him.
Belio Kipsang, the education ministry's permanent secretary, stated that the government is coordinating with the school administration to account for all the children in the boarding section.
"We are asking the parents who picked up their children and the community to support us as we consolidate the numbers to ensure that we account for every child who was boarding in this school," Kipsang said.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kenyan President William Ruto said, "Our thoughts are with the families of the children who have lost their lives in the fire tragedy at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County. This is devastating news."
"We pray for speedy recovery to the survivors. I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account. The Government under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government is mobilizing all the necessary resources to support the affected families," Ruto added in his post.
Ruto's deputy Rigathi Gachagua called on school administrators to ensure that the safety guidelines recommended by the education ministry for boarding schools are strictly followed.
Fires in Kenyan boarding schools are often linked to arson driven by drug abuse and overcrowding, according to a recent education ministry report. Many students remain in boarding schools as parents believe it provides more time for study without the burden of long commutes.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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