Utumishi Girls’ fire tragedy: Hospital issues update on affected students after night fire

• St Joseph Hospital has confirmed that it admitted several learners, many traumatised, with some nursing fractures and burns
• The victims escaped the deadly inferno that erupted at the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory in Gilgil
• As Kenya mourns yet another heartbreaking school tragedy, the families of 16 students are in mourning

A sombre mood has engulfed families, medical staff and officials in Gilgil after St Joseph Hospital confirmed it had admitted dozens of students injured in the devastating fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy.

According to the hospital, 69 students were brought in for treatment following the deadly night blaze that tore through a dormitory at the school in the early hours of Thursday, May 28.

A spokesperson from the hospital told the media that seven of the learners suffered fractures while one sustained minor burns, as terrified students scrambled to escape the inferno.

The tragedy has shaken the country, with grieving parents and anxious relatives flocking to hospitals and the school grounds in search of information about their children.

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The fire reportedly broke out at around 2 am while students were asleep in their dormitories.

Authorities said the incident was formally reported at approximately 3.30 am, triggering emergency rescue efforts involving police officers, firefighters and residents.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as flames spread rapidly through the dormitory building.

Some survivors alleged that the dormitory door jammed during the blaze, trapping students inside as smoke and flames intensified.

Police have since confirmed that the death toll has risen to 16 students, up from earlier reports of 10 fatalities.

Officials warned that the figure could change as investigations and identification efforts continue.

At least 74 students were injured during the incident, with several rushed to different medical facilities for urgent treatment.

Others escaped with minor injuries after fleeing the school compound in fear as the fire spread.

Outside St Joseph Hospital in Gilgil, emotional scenes unfolded as worried parents waited anxiously for updates from doctors and school authorities.

Some could be seen comforting one another, while others desperately made phone calls trying to trace missing children.

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Hospital staff worked through the night, attending to the injured learners, many of whom arrived traumatised and exhausted after escaping the burning dormitory.

The tragedy has also reignited concerns over safety standards in boarding schools, particularly emergency preparedness during nighttime disasters.

Questions are already emerging over whether the dormitory had sufficient fire exits and whether students had undergone fire safety drills.

Parents gathered at the school expressed frustration over the lack of immediate information, saying the uncertainty had deepened their anguish.

“We just want to know whether our children are safe,” one distraught parent said outside the school gates.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of those who died, explaining that officials are still conducting headcounts and verifying records as some students remain unaccounted for.

Police officers and forensic investigators continued combing through the burnt structure on Thursday morning in an effort to establish the cause of the fire.

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Meanwhile, leaders, education stakeholders and Kenyans across the country have sent messages of condolence to the affected families, with many calling for swift investigations and stronger safety measures in schools.

As the nation mourns yet another school fire tragedy, families now face painful hours of waiting, hoping for answers and praying for the recovery of the injured students fighting to heal from a night that changed countless lives forever.

Source: NGBREAKINGNEWS