By Bonface Mulyungi

Kenya Red Cross has responded to a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, where at least 16 students are feared dead.

According to police, 16 students are feared dead.

“The number of fatalities is estimated to be about 16, in number while an unknown number of injured victims were rushed to various medical facilities with different degrees of injuries and admitted in stable condition,” police said.

The fire is said to have broken out at around 1 am and was reported at approximately 3.30 am on Thursday, according to the Kenya Red Cross.

In a statement, Kenya Red Cross said: “Following a fire incident reported at around 3:30am at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, Kenya Red Cross responded to support the ongoing emergency response.”

They added: “Our first responders, @EMS_Kenya ambulance crew and our psychosocial support personnel are currently on the ground supporting affected students alongside other responders and relevant authorities.”

Response operations are ongoing as emergency teams assess the situation and support affected students. Authorities have not yet released further details as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi said the teams had not accounted for at least ten students.

“Our teams are on the ground to gather more and account for all the students as part of the probe into this incident. We have casualties and the families have to be informed first,” he said.

Parents streamed to the school gates in large numbers as news of the tragedy spread across Gilgil and neighbouring areas, with police restricting access and only allowing parents into the compound while investigations and rescue operations continued.

The injured students were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Gilgil for assessment and treatment.