Kenya announces three days of mourning after 17 students died in a fire

Kenya's President William Ruto has announced three days of national mourning starting Monday after 17 primary school children died in a fire in a dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri County.

Speaking to journalists at the scene of the incident, Vice President Rigathi Gachagua said 70 students are missing and 27 are in hospital. Gachagua has described the tragedy as terrible and said that forensic work using DNA genetics will be needed to help identify the victims and call on the community to help find the missing. Kenya: 70 students are missing following the fire tragedy

Panic has spread among the families of the children gathered at the school waiting to get information. According to the police force, the bodies of the children found at the scene of the accident were burnt beyond recognition.

Yesterday President Willam Ruto of Kenya ordered an investigation as soon as possible in relation to the fire incident that occurred at Endrasha Primary School in Nyeri County which resulted in 17 students losing their lives and 14 others being seriously injured.

The spokesperson of the National Police Service, Doctor Resila Onyango has said that a team of investigative officers has been sent to the school located in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County.