10 pupils feared dead in dormitory inferno

Rescuers load the charred bodies of the deceased into a Police van following a fierce fire that razed a dormitory at Asumbi Girls Boarding Primary Schools on August 22, 2012. Photo / Nation Correspondent 

By MAURICE K'ALOUCH
Posted  Wednesday, August 22  2012 at  23:32

At least ten pupils of Asumbi Boarding Primary School, in Homa Bay County, are feared dead after a fire razed their dormitory on Wednesday night.

Initial reports indicate that the ten were among class seven and eight pupils attending August holiday tuition in the school. The institution is run by the Asumbi Catholic Church parish.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electricity surge after a daylong power blackout in the area.

Unconfirmed reports also indicate the dormitory's door may have been bolted from outside.

Parents whose children were at the school began streaming at the institution as soon as word on the fire went out. They were however frustrated by the school's administrators who were not forthcoming with details of the inferno.

Not even the efforts by the Police and Red Cross to get the school's administrators to give an official statement worked, as the Catholic nuns and teachers went in hiding at the convent.

Rangwe DO Daniel Cheruiot, who spoke at the scene, said he counted at least eight charred remains of girls.

“Eight bodies have been recovered from the scene and taken to the Homa Bay District Hospital Mortuary,” he said.

Mr Cheruiyot said the girls had been trapped inside the dormitory, which appeared to have been locked from outside.

Homa Bay OCPD Francis Kumut also said about ten girls were feared dead in the fire.

Parish Priest Reverend Aloise Okumu said the pupils were under the care of Catholic nuns.