Sixteen students died in a fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, about 120km north-west of Nairobi, Kenyan authorities have confirmed.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday while students were asleep. Education Minister Julius Ogamba said it started on the first floor of one dormitory, which was completely destroyed. Response teams extinguished the blaze by about 03:00, but the damage had already been done.
Dozens of students were injured and taken to hospital. Of those, 71 have been discharged and seven remain admitted for further treatment, Ogamba said during a visit to the school.
Police said search and rescue operations were under way and the cause of the fire had not yet been established. The Kenya Red Cross said emergency responders were on the ground providing support.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen offered condolences to bereaved families and urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue. He said 16 students had been identified as having died so far.
Parents and relatives gathered outside the school awaiting news. Some students fled the dormitory during the chaos and were still being traced, according to police commander Masoud Mwinyi. The school has been cordoned off, with only parents allowed inside.
One parent, Leah Serem, said she was reunited with her daughter several hours after the fire. Another relative, Wambui Nderitu, said her cousin survived but suffered a broken leg after jumping from the upper floor to escape.
School fires have occurred repeatedly in Kenya in recent years. Authorities have often cited overcrowding, arson, and failure to follow safety guidelines as contributing factors.
