A devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in central Kenya has claimed the lives of at least 21 children, with dozens more still unaccounted for. The blaze, which erupted late Thursday night in a dormitory housing over 150 boys aged 9-13, has left the nation in mourning and raised serious questions about safety measures in Kenyan schools.Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura reported that ’19 bodies have been recovered from this scene,’ with two others succumbing to their injuries in hospital. The severity of the burns has made identification challenging, necessitating DNA testing to determine the exact number of victims. ‘The bodies found on the scene have been burned beyond recognition,’ said police spokesperson Resila Onyango.President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning starting Monday and promised a thorough investigation into the tragedy. ‘I commit to answering the difficult questions that have been raised, such as how this tragedy occurred and why the response was not timely; fully, honestly, and without fear or favoritism,’ Ruto stated.The incident has revived memories of previous school fires in Kenya, including a 2001 blaze at Kyanguli secondary school that killed 67 students and a 2016 fire in Nairobi that claimed nine lives. These recurring tragedies have prompted calls for stricter safety guidelines in schools, including spacious dormitories with accessible escape routes.In a separate incident, a fire broke out at Isiolo Girls Secondary School on Saturday night, but swift response from local authorities prevented any injuries. This recent spate of school fires has intensified concerns about emergency preparedness in educational institutions across Kenya.As the nation grapples with this tragedy, Pope Francis has expressed his ‘spiritual proximity’ to the families of the victims, offering prayers for those affected. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis of school safety in Kenya, with authorities now facing pressure to implement more rigorous safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
Key points
- A fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kenya has killed at least 21 children, with dozens still missing.
- President William Ruto has declared three days of national mourning and promised a thorough investigation.
- The tragedy has reignited concerns about safety measures in Kenyan schools, following previous deadly incidents.
- DNA testing is being used to identify victims due to the severity of the burns.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported numbers of victims and missing children across different sources, likely due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and identification process.
