Nakuru: At least 10 schoolgirls lost their lives in a tragic overnight fire that engulfed a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru, central Kenya. Police made the announcement to reporters, as reported by local media on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi confirmed the fatalities and cautioned that the death toll could rise as rescue operations are still underway. The exact number of injuries has not yet been determined, as mentioned by Kenya's Citizen Television.

Nakuru is one of the largest urban centers in the Rift Valley region, situated approximately 160 kilometers (99 miles) northwest of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. In response to the emergency, teams comprising emergency responders, police officers, and humanitarian workers were dispatched to the school. Families have gathered at the scene, anxiously waiting for updates about missing students.

The Kenya Red Cross issued a statement saying, "Our first responders, ambulance crew, and psychosocial support personnel are currently on the ground supporting affected students alongside other responders and relevant authorities."

As of Thursday morning, authorities had yet to determine the cause of the fire. Investigations are ongoing as rescue and recovery efforts persist at the scene. Over the years, school fires have been a recurring issue in Kenya, sparking concerns about the safety standards of dormitories, overcrowding, and the state of emergency preparedness in boarding schools.

There have been previous incidents with significant casualties where students were trapped in burning dormitories. In September 2024, a fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County resulted in the deaths of at least 21 boys, marking one of the most devastating school fire disasters in recent times. Similarly, in 2017, a fire at Moi Girls High School in Nairobi claimed the lives of 10 students, with investigators later determining that the blaze had been intentionally set.