- A devastating fire tore through Katoloni Secondary School late Saturday night, injuring 20 students as they scrambled to escape the flames
- Chaos ensued as two dormitories were reduced to ashes, with students suffering from both minor injuries and smoke inhalation
- Despite efforts to control the situation, an unruly crowd outside the school forced police to intervene with teargas, adding to the tension
Chaos erupted at Katoloni Secondary School in Machakos County on Saturday night, September 14, 2024, as a fire gutted two dormitories, leaving around 20 students injured.
The blaze, which broke out while the students were in their classrooms for evening prep, triggered a stampede as panic spread throughout the school.
Machakos County Police Commander Patrick Lobolia confirmed that most of the injuries were sustained during the rush to escape, with some students fainting after inhaling thick smoke.
Follow our Facebook page for more updates:
Emergency services swiftly contained the fire by 10:50 pm, but not before personal items like clothes, books, and beddings were destroyed.
“The students were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Some had fainted due to smoke inhalation, but thankfully, all were discharged after receiving care,” Lobolia stated.
Read Also:
1: Endarasha Dormitory That Went on Fire Killing 17 Students Was Made of Timber, Reports
2: Scenes of Horror as 17 Pupils Die in Dormitory Fire at Endarasha Academy in Nyeri
As the fire raged, members of the public flocked to the school, complicating rescue efforts.
Police were forced to intervene when the crowd, which included intoxicated individuals from nearby clubs, blocked the school entrance, hampering emergency response teams.
To restore order, officers used teargas to disperse the unruly gathering.
Follow our Facebook page for more updates:
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with Lobolia reassuring the community that all students have been accounted for and that calm has returned to the school.
For now, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown as the school tries to rebuild after the devastating incident.
