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Parents are anxiously waiting to learn the fate of their children after a fire broke out at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a boarding school in central Kenya, on Thursday night last week, September 5, 2024.
The fire, which started in the dormitory around 11 p.m., has left at least 17 pupils dead, according to the Ministry of Education. However, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that 70 children are still unaccounted for, and the final death toll remains uncertain.
The tragic incident occurred at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, where more than 150 pupils were sleeping in the dormitory when the fire broke out. Most of the victims were around nine years old. The cause of the fire is still unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
Postmortem examinations on the victims began on Thursday at Narumoru Level 4 Hospital, led by Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor, assisted by other forensic experts. The autopsies were expected to continue into the night, with at least 10 bodies examined by late Thursday evening. DNA samples were collected starting Monday to help identify the victims, as many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Local residents rushed to the scene to help, but firefighters were delayed due to poor road conditions. Some children reportedly fled into nearby communities or were picked up by their parents in the chaos, adding to the confusion over the number of missing pupils.
In a desperate effort to locate the missing children, Deputy President Gachagua called on all parents who had collected their children to inform the authorities. “We are praying and hoping for the best,” he said. President William Ruto described the fire as “horrific” and “devastating” and promised a thorough investigation, stating that those responsible would face consequences.
The school is in a remote area near Nyeri town, about 150 kilometers north of Nairobi. It has 824 pupils, with 316 boarders. As search and recovery efforts continue, a team of investigators, including forensic experts, has been deployed to the site.
Families have been left in deep grief as they await news. Angela Kimani, who is looking for her 11-year-old nephew, described the pain of not knowing his fate. “We haven’t found him in hospitals. We are wondering if he could be among those who have been burned beyond recognition. It’s such heavy grief for our family,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has promised to support the affected families by covering funeral expenses and hospital bills for the injured. Fourteen children have been taken to hospital with various injuries. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is providing counseling to the affected children and their families.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has urged the public not to spread misinformation about the incident. He warned against making false statements on social media, emphasizing the government’s commitment to sharing accurate information in a coordinated manner.
The tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy is not an isolated incident; school fires are relatively common in Kenyan boarding schools. Several fires were reported across the country last week, including blazes at schools in the Rift Valley, Eastern, and Central regions. Although no injuries were reported in these other fires, the damage to property was significant, raising concerns about safety standards in boarding schools.
The government has promised to release a detailed report on the cause of the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire once the investigation is complete.
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