At least 16 students have died and 79 others were hospitalised after a fire gutted a girls’ dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, Kenya, authorities said on Thursday.

The fire broke out shortly before 1:00 a.m. local time at the school located in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres north of the capital, Nairobi.

Kenya’s Education Minister, Julius Migos Ogamba, confirmed the fatalities while speaking to journalists at the scene.

“We have 16 fatalities. It’s an unfortunate incident,” Ogamba said.

Journalists at the school reported seeing shattered windows, blackened walls and a collapsed corrugated iron roof at the affected hostel.

Parents and guardians gathered at the school as officials worked to identify victims and notify families.

A distressed parent, Leila Matura, said her 18-year-old daughter was still missing hours after the incident.

“We went to the hospital to see if she is there, she is not there. So they are telling us she is among the missing. Whether she is dead or alive, we do not know,” she said.

Another parent said her 17-year-old daughter survived after jumping through a window during the fire outbreak but sustained fractures in both legs.

“She broke both her legs jumping from the window. Thank God she is strong. It is every mother’s nightmare,” the woman said.

The school is associated with the National Police Service, with many of the students reportedly children of police officers.

A firefighter identified simply as Fred said emergency responders battled the flames for about 45 minutes due to the intensity of the blaze.

“When we arrived, the fire was still blazing. It was so big. It took about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames because of the mattresses inside,” he said.

Authorities said investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.

Kenyan President William Ruto described the incident as an “unimaginable tragedy” and expressed condolences to affected families.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters,” Ruto wrote on X.

Kenya has recorded several deadly school fires over the years, especially in boarding schools, which remain common across the country.

In 2024, a dormitory fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County killed 21 boys, prompting government promises to strengthen school safety measures nationwide.

Ogamba said on Thursday that about 350 schools had been shut since 2024 for failing to meet safety standards.

“We will continue inspections to ensure that our schools meet the safety standards,” he said.