At least 15 schoolgirls have been killed, 73 injured after a devastating overnight fire swept through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru, central Kenya, police told reporters, according to local media.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi confirmed the deaths, warning that the toll could increase as rescue operations are underway, with the number of injuries yet to be established, the broadcaster Kenya’s Citizen Television reported on Thursday.
Nakuru, one of the country’s largest urban centres in the Rift Valley region, is located about 160 kilometres (99 miles) northwest of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Emergency responders, police officers, and humanitarian teams were deployed to the school, as families gathered awaiting updates on missing students, the report added.
“Our first responders, ambulance crew and our psychosocial support personnel are currently on the ground supporting affected students alongside other responders and relevant authorities,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.
Concerns over safety standards
