A deadly dormitory fire at a Kenyan boarding school has left 16 students dead and dozens injured.
At least 16 students were killed after a fire broke out at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil, central Kenya, early Thursday morning, according to local police. Authorities said 74 other students were injured and are receiving treatment in hospital.
Police said the fire started around 01:00 local time while students were asleep inside a dormitory about 220 pupils. Emergency teams and rescue workers responded to the scene as panic spread through the school compound.
Local police commander Masoud Mwinyi said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. Some students reportedly fled into nearby areas during the chaos, while others were injured after jumping from upper floors.
School fires have become a recurring problem in Kenya, with overcrowded dormitories and poor safety measures often blamed for deadly incidents in boarding schools across the country.
Parents gathered outside the school as authorities continued search-and-rescue operations and worked to identify victims.
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