Fire at girls' school in Kenya kills at least 16 students, injures scores more, government official says
Key Points:
- At least 16 students died and 79 others were injured in a fire that broke out overnight in the dormitories of Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, Kenya, according to Education Minister Julius Ogamba.
- The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with authorities examining whether the school's fire safety protocols were followed.
- The school is government-owned and managed by the Kenya Police Service, with many students being daughters of police officers.
- School fires are a recurring issue in Kenya, with past incidents including a 2001 fire that killed 67 students and a 2024 fire that claimed 21 lives.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing, and authorities are managing the situation while keeping frantic parents outside the school premises.