09 Sep Kenya boarding school erupts into flames

Three students were injured in a fire at a girls’ boarding school in central Kenya’s Isiolo town on Saturday 07 September, according to the Red Cross.

This incident followed the tragic deaths of at least 21 children in a fire at a boarding school in Nyeri, also in central Kenya, on Thursday night.

The fire at Isiolo Girls High School destroyed dormitories before being brought under control, as reported by a Kenyan police spokesperson.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, but there have been several fires in boarding schools in Kenya in recent years, leading to national concerns regarding safety standards.

The Kenya Red Cross reported that three children sustained minor injuries and received psychological first aid.

Rescue teams, including police and fire squads, were seen using flashlights to search for students and salvageable property in the damaged dormitories, according to Reuters news agency.

DNA testing will commence on Monday to identify the bodies of the children who died in the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy on Thursday night.

Currently, 17 children remain unaccounted for, and some parents and relatives are demanding answers, camping at the school.

President William Ruto has declared three days of mourning, starting on Monday, for the victims of the fire.

The cause of the fire is still unclear. The chief prosecutor issued a statement urging investigators to assess whether negligence and recklessness may have contributed to the tragedy.