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At least 16 students killed in fire at Kenyan girls' boarding school in Nakuru
At least 16 students have been killed and dozens injured in a fire at a girls' boarding school in Nakuru County, western Kenya. Witnesses described pupils trapped on upper floors jumping from windows to escape the blaze that erupted in the early hours.
At least 16 students have been killed and more than 70 injured in a devastating fire at a girls' boarding school in Nakuru County, western Kenya. The blaze broke out at around 1am local time in a dormitory building, trapping students on upper floors as flames spread rapidly through the structure.
Witnesses described harrowing scenes of students jumping from windows and balconies to escape the inferno. Families gathered outside the school desperate for information about their children. The majority of the 79 injured students have already been discharged from hospital, but the death toll has shocked the community.
The school housed girls aged between 15 and 18. Police confirmed that the fire originated in the dormitory but the exact cause remains unknown. An investigation has been launched to determine what started the blaze and whether safety protocols were adequate to protect the students.
School fires remain a recurring tragedy in Kenya, where boarding facilities sometimes lack adequate fire safety equipment and escape routes. Previous incidents have prompted calls for stricter enforcement of building safety codes in educational institutions across the country.
The incident has drawn international attention, with multiple news outlets around the world reporting on the tragedy. The Kenyan government is expected to address questions about school safety standards in the wake of this latest disaster, as reported by ABC News Australia and CCTV13.