Fire at Kenyan Girls' Boarding School Leaves at Least 16 Dead, 79 Injured

At a girls' boarding school in East Africa's Kenya, a fire broke out in the early morning hours, claiming the lives of at least 16 students.

According to the Associated Press, BBC, and other sources on May 28 (local time), a fire occurred at the dormitory of Utumishi Girls' School in the Gilgil area of central Kenya in the early morning. The fire started on the first floor of the dormitory and quickly spread throughout the entire building.

Approximately 220 female students, aged between 15 and 18, were staying in the affected dormitory. It has been reported that students on the second floor suffered serious injuries to their legs and other areas as they jumped out of the windows to escape the flames.

The fire raged for more than two hours, resulting in 16 student fatalities and injuring 79 others. While most of the injured were discharged after receiving treatment, seven remain hospitalized.

Overnight fire claims the lives of 16 students at Utumishi Girls' School in Gilgil, Kenya. Photo by Reuters/Yonhap News

This school is supported by the Kenya National Police Service, and it has been confirmed that many of the students are children of police officers. The police are currently investigating the exact cause of the fire.

Kenyan President William Ruto posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "No words can ease the pain of losing young lives full of dreams and hopes for the future." He offered his condolences to the parents, teachers, and fellow students who must endure this unimaginable tragedy.

President Ruto added that "as the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, efforts will be focused on rescue operations, treatment of the injured, and support for the families."

Kenya has experienced repeated incidents in which many students have died due to fires at boarding schools. In November 2024, a dormitory fire at a boys' school in central Nyeri killed 21 students aged 9 to 13, and in September 2017, 10 students died in an arson attack at a girls' high school in Nairobi. In 2001, a fire at a school in Machakos, near Nairobi, claimed 67 lives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.