published at 07:51 British Summer Time
At least 17 pupils have died after a school in central Kenya caught fire on Thursday night, police say.
The cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Primary in Nyeri county is not yet known, and an investigation has been launched.
There are fears the death toll could rise as more than a dozen others have been taken to hospital with severe burns.
We’re still gathering information on the details of the fire and our teams in London and Nairobi will bring you live updates as we get them, so stay with us.
More than 150 pupils were in the dormitory that caught fire around midnight, local police boss Pius Murugu said.
The fire spread very fast as most of the buildings in the school are built with timber, according to a journalist from Citizen TV.
The school has a total of 824 pupils, mostly aged between five and 12.
Homicide investigators are already at the school.
Kenya’s president orders investigation into ‘devastating’ fire
Kenya’s President William Ruto says the news of the fire is “devastating” and has ordered an investigation into its cause.
“We pray for speedy recovery to the survivors,” he says on social media.
“I instruct relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this horrific incident. Those responsible will be held to account.
“The government under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government is mobilising all the necessary resources to support the affected families.”
Already, a team of investigators has been deployed to Hillside Endarasha Primary, police say, after last night’s fire at the school.
As we’ve reported, the cause of the fire that killed 17 pupils is not yet known.
President William Ruto called the fire “horrific” and “devastating”, and has ordered an investigation.
“Those responsible will be held to account,” he wrote on social media.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango told AFP news agency that bodies recovered were “burnt beyond recognition”.
“More bodies are likely to be recovered once (the) scene is fully processed,” she added.
Hillside Endarasha Academy is a private primary boarding school.
We do not know the ages yet of those who died, but in Kenya primary schools cater to pupils from six to 14-years-old.
The school is in the Central Highlands of Kenya, 150km (93 miles) north of Nairobi.
According to news agency AFP, the school caters to around 800 children.
