A tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, has left several students feared dead after flames swept through a dormitory during the early hours of Thursday morning.
The incident caused panic and confusion at the school as parents, teachers, and residents gathered outside the compound waiting for information about the students.
According to initial reports, the fire is believed to have started at around 1am while students were asleep in the dormitory.
Emergency response teams were later alerted, with the Kenya Red Cross confirming that the incident was officially reported at around 3.30am. Rescue efforts immediately began as firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel rushed to the school to contain the fire and assist affected students.
In a statement, the Kenya Red Cross said its teams responded quickly to support the ongoing emergency operation at the institution.
The organisation also confirmed that psychosocial support teams had been deployed to help students, parents, and teachers who were traumatised by the overnight incident.
The atmosphere outside the school remained tense throughout the morning as worried parents streamed to the gates seeking information about their children.
Police officers restricted access into the compound as investigations and rescue operations continued inside the school. Only parents were allowed entry as authorities worked to manage the growing crowd.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also arrived at the scene shortly after the fire was reported.
Authorities launched a head count to establish the exact number of students who were inside the dormitory at the time of the fire and to determine the extent of the tragedy.
Residents from nearby areas also gathered around the school as news of the incident spread across Gilgil and other parts of Nakuru County.
Many expressed shock over the deadly incident, with calls growing for thorough investigations into what may have caused the fire.
By Thursday morning, officials had not yet released the exact number of casualties or injuries as rescue and verification efforts continued.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates once investigations and identification processes are completed.
