At least 17 students dead and over 70 injured after a fire broke out in a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, during the early hours of Thursday, police said.
The fire reportedly started at around 1 am while students were asleep, rapidly spreading through the building and causing panic within the school compound. The Kenya Red Cross said the incident was officially reported at about 3:30 am.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi confirmed the deaths on Thursday morning, saying rescue efforts were still underway as emergency teams continued searching through the burnt dormitory.
