Endarasha Fire: Timeline Of Events As Parents Anxiously Await Post-Mortem Results

• A lot has transpired since September 6, when a fire razed down a dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy
• From kids disappearing without a trace to questions being raised with no answers given
• TUKO.co.ke shares a timeline of events that have characterised one of the deadliest school fires in Kenya in recent times

Nyeri, Kenya – The tragic fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy has left the community in shock and mourning.

As parents anxiously await post-mortem results, TUKO.co.ke shares a timeline of the events that have unfolded since the devastating incident.

1. Fire Breaking Out

It all started on the night of September 6 when a fire broke out in the dormitory of the boarding school, located in Nyeri County.

The blaze, which started around midnight, quickly engulfed the building, trapping many of the 156 pupils inside.

More than 150 pupils were in the dormitory when it went ablaze, with the average age of the victims being nine years old, BBC reports.

2. Initial Casualties and Unaccounted Pupils

In the immediate aftermath, 17 pupils were confirmed dead, with the Ministry of Education expressing fear that the death toll could rise.

Some children were believed to have escaped and hid in the local community, while others were picked up by their parents without the school’s knowledge.

Ultimately, it emerged that the whereabouts of over 40 students were unknown, but the school had no answers.

As of Wednesday, September 11, the official number of children who were burnt to death stood at 21, AP reports.

3. Survival Stories

Amidst the tragedy, there were stories of survival. Patrick Gikandi, a parent, recounted how his son managed to escape the inferno.

He disclosed that his son and a few friends broke a window and climbed out to safety.

However, Gikandi became emotional upon seeing some parents crying on learning their children had died.

4. Missing children

Even as stories of kids who survived the inferno provided a glimmer of hope, the other side of the coin is dotted with tears.

This was evident from the heart-wrenching scene outside the school where parents gathered, waiting for news of their children.

Many were overcome with grief upon seeing the charred remains of the dormitory.

Arguably, the biggest mystery in the entire incident is the missing children.

In one such story, a student who was evacuated from the burning building is among the unaccounted-for.

"A friend told us they were given blankets to cover themselves because it was freezing. After that, he never saw him again," Robinson Theuri’s mother, Angeline Wambui, told TUKO.co.ke.

5. DP Gachagua visits Hillside Endarasha Academy

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua joined local leaders, including Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga, at the scene to console heartbroken parents affected by the tragedy.

In an emotional moment, Gachagua toured the remains of the dormitory and prayed for strength and comfort for the grieving families.

The DP, visibly moved by the loss, struggled to contain his emotions during the prayer, quivering in his voice.

6. KPLC Denial

In the wake of the fire, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) denied any responsibility for the incident.

Speculation had arisen that an electrical fault might have caused the deadly blaze.

However, KPLC said its installations supplying the school were intact during the tragedy, striking off the claims of faulty transmission.

"We have ascertained there was no link between the cause of the fire and any fault on our network," the company said in a statement.

7. Latest Developments on Post-Mortem

Government pathologists and morticians have begun the grim task of identifying the victims, many of whom were burnt beyond recognition.

According to Daily Nation, the process is expected to take several days, as DNA testing is required to confirm the identities of the deceased.

The community remains in a state of grief and uncertainty as they await the final post-mortem results.

As parents and relatives wait for closure, the nation mourns the loss of young lives and prays for the recovery of those injured.

The investigation continues, with hopes that answers will soon be found to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.

What you need to know about Endarasha fire tragedy

• The burnt dormitory housed 156 boys, all of whom were boarders; the school has a total enrolment of 824 students, with 316 boarders.
• President William Ruto declared three days of mourning and ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.
• An emotional prayer service was held on September 8 to honour the pupils who died in the tragic incident.