Neighbors Recount Night of Terror in Endarasha Hillside Academy Fire Tragedy

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• A fire at Endarasha Hillside Academy claimed the lives of 21 boys, leaving the community in shock.
• Neighbors attempted to rescue the children, but the fire was too intense to control.

Neighbours of Endarasha Hillside Academy were among the first responders to the tragic events that unfolded on Thursday night, leaving 21 boys dead. 

The community is now grappling with grief and shock after a night that forever changed their neighborhood.

It has been over 48 hours since a devastating fire broke out at the school, claiming the lives of 21 young boys. 

The community is still struggling to process the tragic loss. Eric Waweru, a neighbor to the school, vividly recalled the terrifying moments of that night, when the stillness was shattered by the cries of boys in distress.

“I was woken up by screams,” Waweru recounted. Along with others from the neighborhood, he rushed to the scene only to witness unimaginable devastation. 

“By the time we got there, the fire had spread so much. We tried using water, but it didn’t work. We even tried sticks, but nothing helped.”

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The first responders were powerless against the intense flames and thick smoke. 

Despite their best efforts, they could not rescue many of the young boys, most of whom were between 9 and 13 years old, according to a presidential statement. The fire was too fierce, leaving them watching helplessly as the dormitory turned into a death trap.

“We tried to rescue the pupils trapped inside, but the fire was uncontrollable,” Waweru noted with sorrow.

Though the responders were able to save some children, the majority were unable to escape the inferno. 

“Many of them were in the upper section where the fire was heading. I didn’t see many people on top of the fire,” Eric added.

For the neighbors, this tragic incident will remain a permanent scar in their memories. The haunting cries of the children lost to the fire are a painful reminder of one of the darkest nights in the region’s history.