A fire swept through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru, central Kenya, in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least 16 students.
Many victims were found near a blocked exit, with only one way out of the most affected building; others jumped from upper-floor windows.
Distraught parents gathered at the school seeking news of their children.
School fires have become a recurring concern in Kenya, with experts citing arson, negligence and inadequate safety measures as the leading causes.
Al Jazeera's Catherine Soi reports from Nairobi, Kenya.
Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile
#Kenya #Nakuru #UtumishiGirlsAcademy #KenyaSchoolFire #BoardingSchoolFire #SchoolFireTragedy #KenyaEmergencyResponse #KenyaSchoolDisaster