Not less than 17 pupils have died after a faculty in central Kenya caught fireplace on Thursday night time, police mentioned.
There are fears that the loss of life toll might rise as greater than a dozen others have been taken to hospital with extreme burns.
The reason for the hearth at Hillside Endarasha Major in Nyeri county is being investigated, police spokesperson Resila Onyango advised native media.
President William Ruto referred to as the hearth “horrific” and devastating”, and has ordered an investigation.
“These accountable can be held to account,” Mr Ruto posted on X platform.
A group of investigators has been deployed to the varsity, police mentioned.
The Kenya Crimson Cross mentioned it’s offering psychosocial help companies to the pupils, academics and affected households, and has arrange a tracing desk on the college.
Faculty fires are comparatively widespread in Kenyan boarding faculties.
In 2017, 10 college students died in an arson assault at Moi Ladies Excessive Faculty within the capital Nairobi.
Not less than 67 college students died in Machakos County, south-east of Nairobi, within the deadliest Kenyan college arson that passed off greater than 20 years in the past.
This breaking information story is being up to date and extra particulars can be printed shortly. Please refresh the web page for the fullest model.
You possibly can obtain Breaking Information on a smartphone or pill through the BBC Information App. It’s also possible to observe @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the most recent alerts.