Death Toll Rises to 18 in Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire, 70 Pupils Still Missing

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• The Hillside Endarasha Academy fire death toll has risen to 18, with 70 pupils still missing and 27 hospitalized.
• Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while efforts to trace the missing children continue.

The death toll from the tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy has risen to 18, with 70 pupils still unaccounted for. 

Meanwhile, detectives from the DCI Headquarters have arrived at the scene to investigate the cause of the fire, which also left 27 students hospitalized with burns. Initial reports suggest that more bodies could still be trapped in the dormitory, which housed 156 boys.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that 86 families have been informed of their children’s whereabouts, but uncertainty still surrounds the fate of 70 pupils out of the 312 who were in the boarding school. 

Contrary to earlier reports that the fire broke out around 11 pm, it has since been revealed that parents started receiving distress calls from their children as early as 10:40 pm on Thursday, indicating the fire may have started earlier.

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Survivors recounted the harrowing experience, with one child describing how smoke and flames were first seen near the main door of the dormitory. 

While some boys managed to escape through windows, others were tragically trapped and perished in the fire, which was not fully extinguished until 3 am.

Following the incident, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki held an emergency security meeting at the school. 

Meanwhile, other agencies, including the Red Cross, are working to trace parents and children who are still at the institution. 

Kindiki also urged anyone who might be housing a lost pupil to bring them forward to ensure accountability and reunite them with their families.